The organization of future conferences and general debates is just days away, the top UN official said at a press briefing ahead of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday.
Efforts to reach a consensus on the outcome of the Ahut conference next Sunday are in their final stages. In line with this, he urged member countries to reflect the spirit of the agreement.
More than 130 heads of state and government are gathering to take part in the meeting to be held in New York on September 22-23. The meeting was called just before the UN General Assembly’s annual general debate.
The UN chief noted that the decision to convene this meeting was taken against the backdrop of a harsh reality: global challenges are growing at a pace we are not ready to face.
A world beset by challenges
Violent conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and beyond, geopolitical rifts, climate change, discrimination, debt, development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence without proper safeguards.
One crisis is fueling another crisis. For example, digital technology is fueling climate-related misinformation, which is increasing polarization and eroding mutual trust.
“Current global institutions and structures are ill-suited to these complex and existential challenges.”
Organization established in the past
According to the Secretary-General, these institutions were born in the past, for a world whose time has passed. And so, new approaches and new methods are needed to solve the problems of the new age.
The UN chief said it would have been difficult for pacifists in 1940 to have predicted the changes that have taken place over the past eight decades.
“Like our founders, we don’t know what the future will bring.”
But it is clear that the challenges of the 21st century require effective, interconnected and inclusive systems.
“Devastating power imbalances in global institutions must be corrected and necessary changes must be made within them. “Change won’t happen overnight, but it can start today.”
Critical moments for improvement
The UN Secretary-General said there were signs of progress on many important fronts in preparations for future summits.
“For the first time in a generation, concrete language on Security Council reform, and the strongest step toward expanding the Council since 1963.” Also, a bundle of measures for the governance of other new technologies, including artificial intelligence, with the United Nations at its core.
In addition, negotiations are underway for reform of the international financial system and an economic stimulus package for sustainable development, which will strengthen the role of developing countries.
However, he warned that it would be very sad if these were lost.
In the wake of this, key UN member states have called on countries to agree on a ‘Deal for the Future’, a global digital compact and a declaration for future generations.
He said that a favorable future for our grandchildren cannot be created based on the system developed by our forefathers.