Guterres Commends Global South's Push for UNSC and Financial Reforms
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Synopsis
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended the Global South for their advocacy in reforming the Security Council and international financial systems. He emphasized the inadequacies of the current system and the need for a more inclusive approach to represent developing nations' interests.
Key Takeaways
- Guterres calls for reform of the UNSC.
- The current global financial structure is outdated.
- The Global South is pivotal in advocating for justice.
- Pact for the Future aims to enhance representation.
- Combating climate change is urgent.
United Nations, Jan 14 (NationPress) In a call for reforming the Security Council and the global financial framework, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lauded the Global South's endeavors for justice. He remarked that the system established in 1945 is "severely inadequate to address the challenges of today" and "has not provided the essential support your nations require and deserve," during his address to the Global South's Group of 77 on Monday.
"I commend your group of nations — both individually and together — for striving towards maximum ambition and justice for all," he stated.
The international governance structure formed in the wake of World War II "has not sufficiently supported your nations as needed and deserved," he added.
"Moreover, it has prevented your voices from being adequately represented and recognized at pivotal decision-making forums," he noted.
The Pact for the Future, ratified during the September summit of global leaders, signifies "a definitive commitment to enhance representation on the Security Council and to reform the international financial system."
Guterres highlighted this as a crucial illustration of "international commitments to modernize our institutions to better reflect and address the realities of today."
His remarks came during a ceremony where Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Fuad Hussein assumed the chairmanship of the 'Group of 77'.
This group, initially founded by Non-Aligned Nations in 1964 with 77 members, has expanded to 134, with China supporting but not being a full member.
While Guterres urged for an increase in development aid, especially for less developed nations, to tackle the challenges posed by global warming, he underscored the necessity of reforming international trade.
"We require an open, predictable, and inclusive multilateral trading framework that can facilitate connections for developing nations to global value chains, foster prosperity, and combat poverty," he explained.
Reiterating his concerns regarding the threats posed by climate change, Guterres emphasized the need to maintain the rise in global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
This entails reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by 9 percent annually until 2030 "through a just transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies," he stated.
In this endeavor, he asserted that "the largest nations — the G20 — must take the lead."
(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
