UN Secretary-General António Guterres told world leaders to stop playing politics and start solving problems as nearly 150 heads of state fly into New York for the 80th General Assembly’s biggest week, according to UN News. Speaking at UN headquarters on September 16, Guterres warned that global fights and crises have left international cooperation hanging by a thread. He described the world as drifting in “turbulent, uncharted waters” with widening splits between countries, more wars breaking out, climate disasters getting worse, technology running wild, and inequality growing.
Guterres plans to sit down with leaders for over 150 one-on-one meetings, trying to get them talking to each other instead of past each other. “Some call it the World Cup of diplomacy,” he said. “But this cannot be about scoring points – it must be about solving problems. There is too much at stake.” Thousands of officials and diplomats will pack into the city for the week-long gathering.
The UN chief wants to tackle six big issues: ending wars, fighting climate change, controlling new technology, boosting women’s rights, finding money for development, and fixing the UN itself. He pushed for urgent action to stop the fighting in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and other hot spots while backing a two-state solution in the Middle East. On climate, he wants countries to bring tougher plans to keep global warming below 1.5°C, though that goal looks harder to reach every day.
The week includes the first summit bringing together world financial institutions and leaders to find cash for development goals that are way behind schedule. Events will also mark 30 years since the Beijing women’s conference. Guterres launched a new group to make sure AI helps people instead of hurting them.
