After two years of virtual meetings due to the pandemic, United Nations Once again this year in New York great annual event The first since Russia In February he launched the invasion of Ukraine. The need for reform in the Security Council but it also intensifies urgent global problems It has also been exacerbated by the climate crisis and the pandemic, such as hunger and poverty.
From Tuesday, when the negotiations in the General Assembly began, speeches, but given the scale of the challenges and risks, more than words are needed. These are some of the keys to the world the assembly is addressing.
Poverty, hunger, energy crisis and inflation
The pandemic affects 77 million people worldwide. poverty, 71 million it has been added to the list Between March and June of this year. this World Food Program calculated this 323 million people will suffersevere food insecurity” By the end of 2022, that’s more than double what it was before the pandemic.
this food crisis It was exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. energeticand the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterresproposed raising taxes on fossil fuel companies’ record profits from rising oil and gas prices. And two crises come at the same time widespread inflationary pressures it’s like growing up housing crisis, it hits the poorest people and communities hardest.
As the Portuguese pointed out, most Developing countries They also do not have the financial space or access to financial resources to secure it. basic services for its population. as well as increasing the potential social instabilityit is this economic differencebefore that the Portuguese calls for an attempt major reform in the financial systempresents the risk reopen the global divide between north and south exactly at what moment Conflict between East and West.
Despite the fact that this year the UN has been given more money than ever to deal with crises, it is insufficient and the organization is humanitarian funding gap you should go to your Central Emergency Response Fund Coping with crises in 11 countries, from Myanmar to Mali via Pakistan, to Somalia ravaged by floods or threatened by famine that has also affected Yemen, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Nigeria and Afghanistan.
geopolitics and war
The war in Ukraine has marked the final months of the UN, and an appointment will be made in New York this week. Last Wednesday Guterres recalled “would be naive” i think i’m closer to someone Peace treaty said and “options are too few at the moment“, so the focus looking for special developmentshow to expand grain and fertilizer exports Russia and Ukraine to alleviate the food crisis in Africa and other low-income countries. prisoners of war or warranty Safety of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
The war in Ukraine (president Volodymyr Zelenski will videotape After overcoming Russia’s protests), it’s not the only point of geopolitical friction on a long list. Tensions between the US and China continue has increased recently Taiwan. But the world is also waiting for an agreement to be reached to reactivate the multilateral agreement. Iranian promised to leave her military nuclear program and that broke Donald Trump. Moreover fragile truce Yemencontinue directing How to work with Afghanistan under Taliban control or deal with the situation sahel.
climate crisis
Guterres has been very outspoken in denouncing what he describes as “the one”. The global response to the climate crisis is clearly inadequate“. Shortly after returning from flood-stricken Pakistan, “ betrayal and injustice At the heart of this response” and suggested that he plans to use the meeting to use it. encouraging rich countries to commit to more ambitious goals as well as reducing emissions more aid to the poorest countries adapting to climate change.
rights and freedoms
The UN is ending a special session this Monday Education Together senior summitQueen Although he won’t be attending Elizabeth’s funeral, transforming and adapting education systems. But for Guterres, it will be essential to pay attention to the following issues this week. human rightsworrying reclaiming the rights of women and girls or populism.
“Solidarity envisioned in the UN Charter, nationalism acids and self-interest scandalous disdain for the poorest and the most vulnerable, politicians playing with the worst instincts for the partisan gain of the people, prejudice, discrimination, misinformation and hate speech “It’s a situation that sets people against each other by a global financial system that punishes those who have less, and by fossil fuel companies killing the planet for profit,” he said.