At a time when people are suffering and the planet is burning, the world’s advanced economies can take the lead in ensuring financial, structural and climate justice, the UN chief encouraged in a virtual address.
The world, especially developing countries, is facing a perfect storm of growing inequalities, climate chaos, conflict and hunger, the High Representative warned.
Meanwhile, fiscal space is tightening for many, debt burdens are crushing and prices are skyrocketing, he noted from Chile, where he is currently on a visit focused on reviewing the impact of the climate crisis in Antarctica.
The Portuguese-born diplomat thanked the bloc for its commitment to support its annual $500 billion economic recovery plan to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In this sense, he announced that he would set up a leadership group to oversee the implementation of this strengthening of the goals of the 2030 Agenda.
However, the UN chief insisted on the need to work to reform the current global financial architecture, which he deemed dysfunctional and unfair, and welcomed the bloc’s initiative to reform multilateral development banks.
In his speech, Guterres welcomed the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas to introduce a humanitarian pause in Gaza starting Thursday and to release at least 50 hostages.
He stressed that this was an important step in the right direction, but much more needed to be done to end the suffering, he said.
The Secretary-General reiterated that the United Nations will mobilize all its capabilities to support the implementation of the agreement and maximize its positive impact on the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza.
ro/ebr