The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres opened the General Assembly’s high-level debate with a stark message: the world is facing overlapping crises, from wars and humanitarian emergencies to climate breakdown, and leaders must urgently decide “what kind of world we choose to build together.”
This year’s debate comes as the UN marks its 80th anniversary, recalling its creation after World War II as a “practical strategy for the survival of humanity.” Mr. Guterres warned that, eight decades later, the founding vision is being tested like never before.
“We have entered an age of reckless disruption and relentless human suffering,” he said, pointing to armed conflicts, hunger used as a weapon, climate disasters, and growing inequality as signs of a world “under siege.”
Despite these challenges, the Secretary-General stressed that the UN remains indispensable, describing it as a “moral compass, a force for peace, and a lifeline for people in crisis.” He cautioned that today’s multipolar world risks instability if it lacks effective multilateral cooperation.
Mr. Guterres set out five critical choices for governments:
Peace over war: Uphold the UN Charter, pursue diplomacy, and end conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza and beyond.
Dignity and rights: Protect civic freedoms and strengthen investments in health, education, and opportunity.
Climate justice: End reliance on fossil fuels, expand renewable energy, and provide financing for vulnerable nations.
Technology for humanity: Establish global rules to ensure artificial intelligence and other tools serve people.
A stronger UN: Equip and fund the UN adequately to face multiplying crises, instead of prioritizing weapons.
He concluded with a personal reflection, recalling his youth under dictatorship in Portugal, where fear silenced voices. That experience, he said, taught him that “real power rises from people – from our shared resolve to uphold dignity.”
“In a world of many choices, there is one choice we must never make: the choice to give up,” Mr. Guterres urged. “We must never give up. That is my promise to you.”
