UNITED NATIONS: Stronger collaboration among countries is the only sustainable path to a peaceful, stable, prosperous world for all, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on Friday. He proposed debt relief for the 3rd-world countries.
At the same time, he underscored the need for “urgent reform” of the international debt architecture, saying, “We need an operational debt relief and restructuring framework that takes account of vulnerability.”
The international order is at risk of coming apart at the seams.
Strengthening multilateralism is not a choice. It is the only sustainable path to a peaceful, stable, prosperous world for all.
My message to G20 Foreign Ministers today. pic.twitter.com/ju7M3u6fKy
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) July 8, 2022
The G-20 meeting is taking place at an extremely challenging moment for multilateralism and global governance, with the international order “at risk of coming apart at the seams”, he said, citing challenges that include the climate emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and new and evolving forms of conflict.
“Strengthening multilateralism – the theme of this session – is not a choice, but a necessity,” Guterres said in a video message, adding, “It is the only way to avoid widespread food shortages, deepening climate chaos, and a wave of poverty and destitution that will leave no country untouched.”
The UN chief outlined three areas for urgent multilateral action: the growing climate emergency; the food, energy and finance crisis, and the unequal recovery from the pandemic.
The climate crisis is our number one emergency, he said, warning that the battle to keep global temperature rise to the 1.5-degree goal will be won or lost by the end of the decade.
Furthermore, he said, emerging economies must have access to resources and technology to transition to renewable energy.
Wealthier countries must finally make good on the $100 billion climate finance commitment to developing countries, starting this year. “We also need a radical boost for adaptation and early warning systems,” he added.
Meanwhile, many developing countries have suffered devastating economic losses during the pandemic but cannot access finance for recovery.
Guterres stressed that a New Global Deal is needed to rebalance power and financial resources, and enable these nations to invest in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Greater effort is also required to increase the number of countries that can produce COVID-19 vaccines, therapies and tests, by sharing licenses and providing technical and financial support,” he added.
The Secretary-General underscored that the world requires a multilateralism that is more effective, more networked, and more inclusive, saying, “We need to combine the strengths of existing institutions to deliver together on humanity’s most pressing challenges.”
The UN is working with countries to bring forward recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda report, which focuses on strengthening multilateralism.
