Ahead of the G20 Summit in Brazil, Guterres calls on the bloc to take the lead in solving global problems
António Guterres spoke to reporters ahead of the opening day of the G20 Summit in the Brazilian city.
‘A simple message’
“I come to Rio with a simple message: G20 leaders must lead,” he said. speak.
“G20 countries – by definition – have enormous economic power. They use great diplomatic leverage. They must use it to solve important global problems.”
Mr. Guterres arrived in Rio after the UN COP29 climate conference taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Race against challenges
He emphasized the need for countries to “race much faster to solve fundamental shared challenges” such as the climate crisis, bitter conflicts, rising impunity, growing inequality growth and stalled progress in tackling poverty.
Furthermore, Sustainable development goals (SDG) is off track, new technologies offer unprecedented potential for both good and ill, and “our inability to address these challenges and more is eroding erode people’s trust in the government and organizations.”
He recalled that in September, UN member states adopted the resolution Pact for the future to help strengthen multilateralism and advance the SDGs.
‘Let’s move forward for peace’
Mr. Guterres said “we must promote peace” in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan.
“Everywhere, peace requires actions based on the values of UN Charterrule of law and the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of states,” he said.
International financial system ‘unfair’
Turning to financial issues, the Secretary-General emphasized the situation of vulnerable countries “facing enormous headwinds and obstacles not of their making”.
They do not receive adequate support from the current international financial structure, which he describes as “outdated, inefficient and unfair”.
He said the Pact for the Future calls for ambitious reforms to make the system more representative of today’s global economy and the needs of developing and vulnerable countries .
“This includes expanding the voice and representation of developing countries in international financial institutions,” he added.
Furthermore, the Treaty also calls for other measures such as significantly increasing the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks, promoting more comprehensive tax cooperation and exploring all forms of innovative finance.
“The global community is looking to the G20 to implement these agreements,” he said.
Round-the-clock negotiations are underway at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, on a new global climate finance agreement.
concerns about COP29
On climate, the Secretary-General expressed concern about the state of negotiations at COP29, noting that countries must agree to ambitious climate finance targets that meet the scale of the challenge facing developing countries. face.
This is important to build trust between developed and developing countries, he explained, and to encourage the preparation of ambitious national climate plans next year.
“I will appeal to the sense of responsibility of all G20 countries. Now is the time for the world’s largest economies and emitters to lead by example. Failure is not an option,” he said.
Mr. Guterres emphasized that a successful outcome is still within reach but will require leadership and compromise from the G20.
The heat is on
He warned that countries’ current climate policies are pushing the world towards a catastrophic global temperature increase of 3.1 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, when the target is 1.5 degrees.
G20 countries account for 80% of global emissions, he said, and “must lead national climate plans that follow the guidance they agreed to last year – a 1.5-degree adjustment for the entire economy.” economics and all greenhouse gases”.
The Secretary-General also emphasized other necessary actions, including the need for developed countries to keep their commitments to double adaptation finance. He also emphasized the need to combat misinformation around climate change “from outright denial to greenwashing to harassment of climate scientists.”
In this regard, the United Nations is implementing the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change together with Brazil and the Organization’s science and education arm, UNESCO.
Equitable access to technology
Regarding the final point, the Secretary General emphasized Global Digital Compact adopted at the United Nations Future Summit.
It includes the first general agreement on Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance that “brings every country to the negotiating table,” he said.
The treaty further calls for the establishment of an independent International Scientific Council on AI, the initiation of a global dialogue on AI governance within the United Nations, and the voluntary funding of innovation so that developing countries can can build AI capacity.
‘Seize every opportunity’
The Secretary-General noted that although the world is facing many challenges, there are also many possible solutions and “the G20 must lead by example”.
This, he said, is fundamental to restoring the trust, credibility and legitimacy of all governments and our global system in these turbulent times.
“We need to seize every opportunity to take transformative action for a safer, more peaceful and more sustainable world,” he concluded.
