Opening the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a sobering address, warning global leaders that the world is engulfed by cascading crises—from war and humanitarian disasters to the escalating climate emergency—and must urgently decide “what kind of world we choose to build together.”
As leaders from around the world gathered in New York for the UN’s high-level week, Guterres’ speech marked the beginning of the global diplomatic calendar, setting the tone for discussions on peace, development, and international cooperation.
A Stark Warning at a Historic Moment
Marking the UN’s 80th anniversary, Guterres reflected on the organization’s post-World War II origins as a “practical strategy for the survival of humanity.” Now, eight decades later, he said the world faces even more complex and intertwined threats.
“We have entered an age of reckless disruption and relentless human suffering,” Guterres told delegates. “The pillars of peace and progress are buckling under the weight of impunity, inequality, and indifference.”
Citing ongoing wars, humanitarian emergencies, disinformation campaigns, rising seas, and crumbling social trust, the UN chief painted a picture of a world under siege. Each crisis, he said, poses not only a danger but a choice.
Why the UN Still Matters
Despite mounting challenges, Guterres reaffirmed the importance of the United Nations as an irreplaceable institution.
“At its best, the United Nations is more than a meeting place. It is a moral compass, a force for peace, a guardian of international law, and a lifeline for people in crisis,” he said.
In a multipolar world, Guterres warned, the absence of effective multilateral cooperation risks chaos, drawing historical parallels to the lead-up to World War I. Global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, and technological disruption, he argued, require a united international response.
“This is not idealism. It is hard-headed pragmatism,” he said. “No country can face these threats alone.”
Five Critical Choices for the Future
The Secretary-General outlined five urgent choices that he urged governments to confront:
- Peace Over War: From Sudan to Ukraine to Gaza, ongoing conflicts underscore the cost of violating international law. Guterres called for ceasefires, accountability, and renewed diplomacy, emphasizing, “The UN Charter is not optional—it is our foundation.”
- Dignity and Rights: Human rights and civic freedoms, he said, are essential for peace. He called for greater investment in health, education, and opportunity alongside democratic protections.
- Climate Justice: “Fossil fuels are a dead end,” Guterres warned, urging nations to scale up renewable energy investments, meet climate commitments, and support vulnerable countries facing climate impacts. “The window to limit global heating to 1.5°C is closing fast,” he cautioned.
- Technology for Humanity: Highlighting risks from artificial intelligence and digital surveillance, Guterres called for global standards to ensure technology serves people, not power. “No machine should decide who lives or dies,” he said.
- A Stronger United Nations: With crises on the rise, the UN must be properly funded and reformed to meet today’s challenges. Guterres criticized global spending priorities, noting, “For every dollar spent on building peace, $750 is spent on weapons of war.”
A Personal Plea for Perseverance
Concluding on a personal note, Guterres recalled growing up under dictatorship in Portugal—a time when hope was nearly extinguished, and fear ruled daily life. That experience, he said, taught him the value of dignity and the power of people.
“In a world of many choices, there is one we must never make: the choice to give up,” he declared. “We must never give up. That is my promise to you.”
As the world’s leaders gathered in a time of unprecedented uncertainty, the Secretary-General’s message was both a warning and a call to action: the future remains unwritten, but it will be shaped by the decisions made today.
UN Photo – Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the opening of the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 80th session.
UN Photo – Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the opening of the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 80th session.UN Photo – Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the opening of the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 80th session.