UN chief warns of ‘colossal global dysfunction’ but urges world to unite on sweeping solutions

As he kicked off this year’s general debate at the U.N., the body’s Secretary-General António Guterres did not mince words in an address to leaders from around the globe: “Our world is in big trouble.”

“Divides are growing deeper. Inequalities are growing wider,” he said. “And challenges are spreading farther.”

But cast on large screens behind Guterres at the annual gathering of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City was what he called “an image of promise and hope” — the ship Brave Commander. Laden with grain and flying the U.N. flag “high and proud,” the vessel was the first to navigate the Black Sea to bring grain to developing countries since Russia invaded Ukraine, derailing much of the global grain supply.

Guterres, who played a pivotal role in brokering the agreement between Russia and Ukraine to allow for the safe passage of food exports through water routes, thanked the countries “that came together to make it happen — despite the enormous complexities, the naysayers and even the hell of war.” He pointed to that deal as “a symbol of what we can accomplish when we act together.”

“Some might call it a miracle at sea. In truth, it is multilateral diplomacy in action,” he said.

Guterres called for more of that kind of action — warning attendees that while issues with distributing food were behind the world’s current hunger crisis, the problem could soon evolve.

“Without action now, the global fertilizer shortage will quickly morph into a global food shortage,” he said.

Guterres then alluded to the U.N.’s next big initiative: clearing the way for Russian fertilizer components to be exported through Ukraine.

“It is essential to continue removing all remaining obstacles to the export of Russian fertilizers and their ingredients, including ammonia. These products are not subject to sanctions — and we are making progress in eliminating indirect effects,” he said.

The secretary-general then shifted to even more sweeping challenges of the day and even more ambitious — or, to some, radical — plans to address them.

“We need action across the board. Let’s have no illusions. We are in rough seas. A winter of global discontent is on the horizon. Our planet is burning,” Guterres said, detailing the devastating impacts of climate change as Earth warms.

“I recently saw it with my own eyes in Pakistan, where one-third of the country is submerged by a monsoon on steroids,” he said. “No region is untouched. And we ain’t seen nothing yet.”

He called not only for initiatives to address the root causes of damage to the environment, but also to compensate developing countries that bear the brunt of those problems.

“Polluters must pay,” he said. “Today, I am calling on all developed economies to tax the ‘windfall’ profits of fossil fuel companies. Those funds should be re-directed in two ways: to countries suffering loss and damage caused by the climate crisis; and to people struggling with rising food and energy prices.”

Guterres argued the climate was also fueling “a once-in-a-generation global cost-of-living crisis” that was “turbocharged by the war in Ukraine” and that could only be remedied by revolutionizing the world’s monetary policies.

“Today’s global financial system was created by rich countries to serve their interests. It expands and entrenches inequalities. It requires deep structural reform,” he contended. “The divergence between developed and developing countries — between North and South, between the privileged and the rest — is becoming more dangerous by the day. It is at the root of the geopolitical tensions and lack of trust that poison every area of global cooperation, from vaccines to sanctions to trade.”

The secretary-general touched on a host of other problems facing the world. Switching briefly into French, he said that while “much of the world’s attention remains focused on the Russian invasion of Ukraine” and the “massive violations of human rights and international humanitarian law” that have followed, other pressing conflicts are playing out far from the spotlight. He cited recent turmoil in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Haiti, Israel, Libya, Myanmar, Yemen and other countries.

He reminded the room that these conflicts have the potential to bring about a war unlike any the world has ever seen.

“The review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty failed to reach consensus and a nuclear deal with Iran remains elusive,” he said.

Additionally, he spoke about the “forest of red flags” presented by emerging technologies and platforms, such as cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, as well as social media sites that spread “hate speech, misinformation and abuse” and sell data.

Guterres made several mentions of gender inequality, saying it has been “going backwards and women’s lives are getting worse, from poverty, to choices around sexual and reproductive health, to their personal security.”

While the U.N. was — in theory — designed to tackle all of these issues through international problem-solving, the secretary-general said it would require all countries represented in the room to come together.

“And yet we are gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction,” he said. “The international community is not ready or willing to tackle the big dramatic challenges of our age. These crises threaten the very future of humanity and the fate of our planet. Our world is in peril — and paralyzed.”

Guterres pointed to geopolitical divides as the culprit undermining the work of the body’s Security Council, international law, faith in democratic institutions and all forms of international cooperation.

“We cannot go on like this,” he urged. “Let’s work as one, as a coalition of the world, as united nations.”