The G20 group of developed economies must be at the forefront of global efforts to achieve peace, climate action, the updating of international financial institutions and equitable access to emerging technologies, the UN said Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. Secretary General from the ONU.
António Guterres addressed reporters on the eve of the opening of the G20 Summit in the Brazilian city.
A simple message
"I have come to Rio with a simple message: G20 leaders must lead," said.
«The G20 countries, by definition, have enormous economic clout. They wield enormous diplomatic clout. They must use it to address major global problems.»
Guterres arrived in Rio from the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, the COP29, which is being held in Baku (Azerbaijan).
Guterres stressed the need for countries to "run much faster to meet the fundamental common challenges", such as the climate crisis, rampant conflicts, increasing impunity, growing inequality and stagnant progress in the fight against hunger and poverty.
In addition, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not on track, new technologies offer unprecedented potential for both good and bad, and "Our failure to address these and other challenges is eroding people's faith in governments and institutions.»
He recalled that in September, UN member states adopted the Pact for the Future in order to help strengthen multilateralism and advance the Goals.
Guterres said that "we must take a step forward for peace" in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan.
«Everywhere, peace requires actions based on the values of the Charter of the United Nations, the rule of law and the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of States," he said.
Women who have fled their homes in Gaza rest on a wall.
Unfair international financial system
Returning to financing, the Secretary-General highlighted the situation of vulnerable countries which "face tremendous headwinds and obstacles that are not of their making."
They are not receiving adequate support from the current international financial architecture, which he described as "outdated, ineffective and unfair».
He said the Pact for the Future calls for ambitious reforms to make the system more representative of today's global economy and the needs of developing and vulnerable nations.
«This includes expanding the voice and representation of developing countries in international financial institutions."He added.
The Compact also calls for other measures such as substantially increasing the lending capacity of the Multilateral Development Banks, promoting more inclusive tax cooperation and exploring all forms of innovative financing.
"The global community expects the G20 to honour these agreements," he said.
Concerns at COP29
On climate, the Secretary-General expressed concern about the state of negotiations at COP29, noting that countries must agree on an ambitious climate finance target that is commensurate with the magnitude of the challenge facing developing countries.
This is crucial to building trust between developed and developing countries and encourage the preparation of high-ambition national climate plans next yearHe said.
"I will appeal to the sense of responsibility of all G20 countries. The time has come for the world's largest economies and emitters to lead by example. Failure is not an option," he said.
Guterres insisted that a satisfactory outcome is still possible, but that leadership and commitment from the G20 will be required.
The heat squeezes
Guterres warned that countries' current climate policies are pushing the world towards a disastrous global temperature rise of 3,1 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, when the target is 1,5 degrees.
G20 nations account for 80% of global emissions and “they must lead with national climate plans that follow the guidance they agreed last year: 1,5 degrees aligned, economy-wide and all greenhouse gases,” he said.
The Secretary-General also highlighted other necessary measures, such as developed countries maintaining their commitment to double financing for adaptation. He also stressed the need to combat misinformation surrounding the climate change "ranging from outright denial to greenwashing to harassment of climate scientists."
In this regard, the UN is launching the Global Initiative for Climate Change Information Integrity together with Brazil and the Organization's education and science agency, the UNESCO.
Equal access to technology
Finally, the Secretary General highlighted the Global Digital Compact adopted in the Future Summit from the ONU.
Includes the first universal agreement on governance of Artificial Intelligence (IA) "that brings all countries to the table," he said.
The Pact also calls for the creation of an independent International Scientific Group on AI, the launch of a global dialogue on AI governance within the United Nations, and innovative voluntary funding to enable developing countries to build AI capacity.
seize every opportunity
The Secretary-General noted that while there are many challenges facing the world, there are also many possible solutions, and “the G20 must lead by example.”
This is essential to restore trust, credibility and legitimacy of all governments and our global system in the current turbulent times, he said.
"We must seize every opportunity to lead transformative action for a safer, more peaceful and sustainable world," he concluded.