New York, September 20 (QNA) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday underlined the urgent need to address conflicts and climate disasters that increase poverty and inequality; warning at the same time of geopolitical tensions and their repercussions on areas of cooperation and global stability.
In his opening speech at the 77th session of the UN General Assemblys high-level debate, the UN chief said: "A winter of global discontent is on the horizon. A cost-of-living crisis is raging. Trust is crumbling. Our planet is burning. People are hurting with the most vulnerable suffering the most. The United Nations Charter and the ideals it represents are in jeopardy," warning that the issue of food security would pose a challenge to the international community due to instability of the global fertilizer market.
The UN Secretary-General called for the climate crisis to be a priority for all governments and organizations, and stressed the need to contribute to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030, and to help developing countries adapt to the shocks of climate change.
On the other hand, the UN chief touched on the war in Ukraine and its repercussions in fueling the cost of living crisis in the world; stressing the need for debt relief for developing countries and the adoption of appropriate mechanisms for that.
For his part, General Assembly President Csaba Korosi warned that 25% of the world's population are living in besieged conflict areas amidst fighting and political instability.
In his speech, Kuroshi noted that the rise in food and energy prices in the past months has pushed 70 million people into poverty, considering that the world needs solutions through solidarity, sustainability and science.
He pointed out that hunger has reached alarming levels due to climate change and the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, stressing that more than 300 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
Kuroshi stressed that the United Nations is making efforts to avoid famines during the next year, by facilitating the work of transporting fertilizers in the world.
(QNA)