Addressing Global Crises: Ending Conflicts and Tackling Existential ThreatsAddressing Global Crises: Ending Conflicts and Tackling Existential Threats At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, UN chief António Guterres emphasized the urgency of ending global divisions and conflicts to pave the way for addressing two existential threats: climate change and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Prioritizing Peace and Stability Guterres stressed the paramount importance of peace as a prerequisite for sustainable development and human rights. He identified several conflict zones where a ceasefire and lasting peace are essential, including the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, and Afghanistan. He emphasized the need for an inclusive government in Afghanistan that respects human rights and prevents the country from becoming a hub of terrorism. Leveraging the SCO’s Power With its broad representation, the SCO has a significant role in promoting peace. Guterres urged the member states to unite and utilize their power to foster stability and address global challenges. Addressing the Challenges of Multilateralism Guterres acknowledged the erosion of trust in multilateralism due to broken promises and inequalities. He emphasized the need to reaffirm commitment to the UN Charter, international law, and human rights. Existential Threats: Climate Crisis and AI Guterres highlighted the severity of the climate crisis and its devastating impacts on water and food security, development, and global stability. He urged governments to submit ambitious NDCs aligned with the 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit. Key actions include ending deforestation, boosting renewable energy, reducing fossil fuel consumption, and phasing out coal-fired power plants. Regarding AI, Guterres emphasized the need for responsible and ethical development and deployment. He urged governments to collaborate in regulating AI and mitigating its potentially negative effects. Call to Action In conclusion, Guterres called for collective action to address global crises. He emphasized the importance of peace, cooperation, and a renewed commitment to multilateralism. He stressed the urgency of tackling climate change and ensuring the responsible use of AI for the benefit of humanity.
Deep global divisions and conflicts must end to pave the way for tackling the world’s twin existential threats: climate change and the negative impacts of the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), UN chief António Guterres said Thursday at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana, according to the organization’s official website.
“The central goal of our multilateral system must be peace – a prerequisite for sustainable development and the enjoyment of human rights,” he told heads of state attending the world’s largest regional organization meeting in the Kazakh capital.
António Guterres named several conflicts where a ceasefire and lasting peace are needed, from the Middle East to Ukraine and from Sudan to the Sahel, but also in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Myanmar and Haiti.
“We need peace in Afghanistan and an inclusive government that respects human rights and is integrated into the international community. All countries must unite to prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a hotbed of terrorism again,” he told the Council of the SCO, the world’s largest regional security body that includes Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
With such broad representation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has the power and responsibility to promote peace, the head of the universal organization stressed.
The UN Secretary-General stressed that the meeting in Astana took place amid raging wars, geopolitical divisions, “an epidemic of impunity” and a backsliding on sustainable development – a key global goal – which had caused cynicism and a crisis of confidence.
“These global challenges cannot be solved on a country-by-country basis. This is the moment to reaffirm our shared commitment to multilateralism, with the United Nations at its centre, bound by the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, international law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” the UN chief said, warning that people are losing faith in multilateralism as they point to broken promises, double standards and growing inequalities.
The UN Secretary-General also stressed the urgent need for collective action against two looming existential challenges: the climate crisis and the unbridled rise of digital technologies, especially AI.
UN climate experts have confirmed that while 2023 was the warmest year on record, it could soon be seen as one of the coolest in a rapidly warming future. The Secretary-General warned that the devastating impacts of our changing climate are already visible in melting glaciers, deadly floods, storms, droughts and extreme heat waves ravaging countries around the world.
“Our climate is collapsing,” he said, highlighting the dire consequences for water and food security, development and global stability. The call to action must be clear, he insisted, calling for ambitious measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve climate justice, with the greatest responsibility falling on the world’s biggest emitters.
Mr Guterres outlined solutions to the global climate crisis and urged all governments to submit new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) next year, fully aligned with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
These NDCs should include absolute emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2035 and outline plans for crucial global transitions, with key actions including ending deforestation, tripling renewable energy capacity and reducing fossil fuel production and consumption by at least 30 percent by 2030. In addition, countries should commit to completely phasing out coal-fired power plants by 2040, the UN chief said.
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