Interview transcript
Secretary-Common, welcome to this interview with UN Information. In a number of days, world leaders are going to collect on this chamber. How would you describe the state of the world that’s the backdrop for this Common Meeting?
Secretary-Common: We face a world disaster. Conflicts are multiplying within the context during which geopolitical divides don’t enable to successfully handle them.
There’s a sense of impunity – each nation believes they will do no matter they need. Then again, we see that creating international locations are dealing with monumental difficulties. A lot of them drowning in debt with out entry to concessional funding that they require to redress their economies. Inequality is rising.
Then again, local weather change isn’t but below management. And we’ve a number of indicators that, it’s going to in all probability be very troublesome to keep up our central goal, which is to maintain world warming beneath 1.5 levels.
And technological developments are largely with out guardrails. And, after all, they’ve an unlimited potential, however the dangers are there. And among the dangers could be witnessed immediately: Supporting the polarization of societies; rising the divisions inside societies; hate speech is rising.
We completely want leaders to come back right here and to show the tide…to come back right here and to reaffirm multilateralism – that we can’t remedy all these issues alone
So on this context, we completely want leaders to come back right here and to show the tide. To return right here and perceive that worldwide cooperation is important in a second like this. To return right here and do the negotiations and the mediations which are essential to, at the least, create hope for peace in among the conditions we face.
To return right here and to make robust commitments in relation to the discount of emissions to deal with local weather change. To return right here and to just accept the necessity for the reforms of the worldwide monetary structure to have extra justice and extra equality in worldwide relations.
To return right here and to just accept some types which, after all, are smooth however some types of governance of synthetic intelligence and new applied sciences that be sure that human company is preserved and that they turn into a power for good.
And, basically to come back right here and to reaffirm multilateralism – that we can’t remedy all these issues alone.
That is my hope. And we’ll do every little thing potential to make this summit a hit and to ask the world leaders to imagine their obligations in a second of world disaster.
And certainly, there are going to be quite a lot of summits convened through the Common Meeting round peace and safety. There’s going to be a two-State answer convention and quite a lot of conferences on ending among the wars which were raging the world over. What do you hope these conferences will obtain?
Secretary-Common: Properly, to start with, I consider that there shall be a transparent, clear demonstration that the overwhelming majority of the international locations on the earth acknowledge the precise of the Palestinian folks to self-determination; acknowledge that there have to be a Palestinian state and acknowledge it within the assembly we may have on Monday.
And, on the similar time, ship a really clear message that the carnage that’s occurring in Gaza has to finish, that we want a ceasefire instantly with the discharge of all hostages instantly too. And with efficient humanitarian help in Gaza that’s struggling the very best degree of demise and destruction that I’ve seen since I am Secretary-Common.
Then again, to have a transparent, clear affirmation that there isn’t a different to the two-State answer – a one-State answer during which the Palestinian folks would haven’t any rights and that a lot of them can be kicked out of their land is one thing fully unacceptable within the twenty first century.
The one method to have hope for peace sooner or later and the one method to battle extremism on the earth, is to reaffirm the two-State answer and to not enable annexations
And so, the one method to have hope for peace sooner or later and the one method to battle extremism on the earth, is to reaffirm the two-State answer and to not enable annexations; to not enable the continuation of this dramatic destruction in Gaza; to create the situations for the 2 peoples, the Jewish folks and the Palestinian folks; to grasp that they should reside in peace and safety.
This may even be the venue for wanting on the state of affairs round quite a lot of different conflicts, a few of them which were referred to as “forgotten”, just like the battle in Sudan.
What do you hope may probably be achieved subsequent week, when world leaders come collectively and concentrate on a few of these “forgotten” conflicts.
Secretary-Common: We have now too many actors messing up in Sudan. And, that is an event, for particularly the massive powers. The struggling of the Sudanese folks is horrible. So, I believe it is time for the Safety Council to have the ability to take – with the settlement of all the important thing powers – very powerful measures on Sudan, to make these Sudanese events perceive that what they’re doing is against the law towards their very own folks.
Are you able to simply say one thing about simply battle basically? What does it do to folks and what are the ripple results all over the world?
Secretary-Common: Properly, as divisions are excessive, and, as we’ve not the devices to ensure accountability – as we reside in a world of impunity – it’s straightforward for international locations that see the examples of massive powers waging battle, as within the case of Ukraine.
There’s a stimulus for mid-sized international locations to attempt to remedy their ambitions or their issues by means of battle – as a substitute of negotiation, as a substitute of compromise. And that is turning into a sample that must be strongly opposed by the worldwide group.
We would want a way more united and efficient Safety Council to make it occur.
And we might want a way more united and efficient Safety Council to make it occur. That is why the reform of the Safety Council is so vital.
You’ve got seen the fallout of those wars. You have been Excessive Commissioner for Refugees and also you’ve visited battle zones and refugee camps and noticed what it means to must flee from wars. What’s your message to all of these folks? We have now 122 million forcibly displaced folks on the earth immediately. How can this finish?
Secretary-Common: My message for them is a message of solidarity. However a very powerful message is to the international locations on the earth which have obligations below worldwide legislation below worldwide refugee legislation, that their doorways have to be open, that refugees should see their rights revered, and that, after all, all should do every little thing potential to reestablish peace of their lands, for them to have the ability to return house.
However, with doorways closed and with conflicts that don’t finish, we see these refugees misplaced, with no rights and in a really dramatic state of affairs. And, to make issues worse, UNHCR that has a incredible position in supporting refugees everywhere in the world, is now dramatically underfunded.
So this can be a tragic state of affairs that requires a complete response for refugee rights to be revered and for refugees to be supported.
On the GA (Common Meeting), you are additionally going to be chairing a Local weather Answer summit. What have you ever requested Member States to come back to the desk with?
Secretary-Common: It is a second during which each Member State should current its new local weather plan. And it’s important that these local weather plans are aligned with the target of 1.5 levels, which implies that they convey a dramatic discount of emissions.
And, on the similar time, that these nationally decided contributions, these local weather plans, cowl the entire of economic system, cowl all greenhouse gases and create the situations for the 1.5 diploma restrict to stay as a chance, as a result of the danger is that we’re on the verge of constructing it irreversible, the impossibility to maintain world warming contained at that degree.
It’s important that [the national] local weather plans are aligned with the target of 1.5°C, which implies that they convey a dramatic discount of emissions
And we should do every little thing now to keep away from that state of affairs of irreversibility that may result in a catastrophe of monumental proportions for folks all over the world, particularly in essentially the most weak situations – Small Island Growing States, the African continent and different areas the place hurricanes, drought, floods, the melting of glaciers, all types of disasters will make life unattainable.
So that is the second to take drastic choices in decreasing emissions and governments should current plans according to that goal.
This has been, since you’ve got been Secretary-Common, a problem that you’ve got been simply hammering at, in any respect ranges, and also you visited all components of the worldto witness the worst results of local weather change. Is that this private to you?
Secretary-Common: That is the defining risk of our occasions. And so, that is private to all of us. And for me, it’s clear that that is the main take a look at in relation to the capability of the world to come back collectively and to defeat what’s an enemy of humankind and of the planet.
Some folks additionally say that synthetic intelligence is considered one of our greatest world threats. And, additionally on the Common Meeting, there shall be a world dialogue on AI governance on the agenda. Why is it so vital to have such a dialogue right here on the United Nations, and how much end result do you hope for?
Secretary-Common: As a result of we completely must protect human company in synthetic intelligence to ensure that synthetic intelligence is a gigantic contribution to the Sustainable Growth Objectives, to extra equality on the earth. And, to keep away from in any respect prices that synthetic intelligence deepens the divide between wealthy and poor on the earth.
We completely must protect human company in synthetic intelligence to ensure that AI is a gigantic contribution to sustainable growth, to extra equality on the earth
And, on the similar time, that it’s used for functions that signify a hazard for our societies – a hazard as a result of they are often weaponized. And I have been claiming the necessity to forbid autonomous weapons during which machines, algorithms can kill folks with out human company.
But in addition, a hazard as a result of it permits to amplify the mechanisms of hate speech, mechanisms of polarization of societies in relation to which the UN has offered – within the Pact for the Future – a transparent algorithm with a purpose to be sure that, in social media and in different platforms, synthetic intelligence and digital applied sciences basically, don’t turn into a risk to the social cohesion of societies and the mechanism of polarization that undermines democracy and undermines the potential of peace to prevail.
One in all your signature points has been financing growth in assist of the SDGs. And the Common Meeting will host a primary of its sort summit, bringing collectively leaders of worldwide monetary establishments and Heads of State. Why is that this so vital?
Secretary-Common: As a result of we want the reform of worldwide monetary establishments and it depends upon Member States to do it. Our worldwide monetary structure comes from the Second World Warfare, and immediately would not signify the world that exists.
We have now seen the emergence of enormous economies within the creating world. They should have a voice and a presence, participation within the world establishments. The identical with continents like Africa or Latin America, which are absent within the mechanisms of determination.
On the similar time, we have to take quite a lot of measures to multiply the assets accessible for creating international locations. We all know that official growth help isn’t rising – quite the opposite, is being dramatically diminished. However there are a sure variety of issues that may be carried out that may multiply the assets that exist.
As an example, if we put $1 in a challenge, it’s $1. For those who put $1 within the capital of a multilateral growth financial institution, it is $5, as a result of they will go to the market and acquire extra assets. So we have to do quite a lot of reforms of the system.
First, to have justice in the best way the system works. And second, to multiply the restricted assets that we’ve accessible so as to have the ability to assist international locations achieve success in reaching the Sustainable Growth Objectives and in offering to their folks a response to their wants – particularly in schooling, in well being, in housing and in lots of different features which are important for the well-being of populations.
We may even be marking 30 years for the reason that landmark Beijing Convention at a time of backsliding on girls’s rights. What’s going to your message be to that assembly?
Gender equality, even gender parity are central to the targets of the United Nations – if there’s a push again, we have to push again towards the push again
Secretary-Common: Gender equality. I might say even gender parity are central to the targets of the United Nations. If there’s a push again, we have to push again towards the push again. And we have to reaffirm that the world can solely be truthful if the 2 halves of the world are on the similar degree and may work collectively to the advantage of us all.
On a private degree, do you ever really feel despair?
Secretary-Common: By no means. I normally use a sentence of Jean Monnet which is: ‘I am not optimistic nor pessimistic, I’m decided.’ I believe this can be a second during which we want willpower. Generally it appears to be like like there isn’t a hope. We should construct that hope and we have to be decided, by no means giving up and preventing and preventing till our targets could be achieved.
The UN is in the course of a monetary disaster which has been compounding over a few years, however which has not too long ago resulted in huge cuts. Some proposed right here within the Secretariat, however particularly the UN humanitarian organizations have confronted price range cuts.
And that is already having a devastating impact on the people who the UN serves. What’s going to you say to Member States subsequent week on why the UN wants their assist?
Secretary-Common: Properly, I’ll say that they need to, to start with, adjust to their obligations. There are voluntary contributions that sadly have decreased with this new emphasis on protection, this new emphasis on rearmament of nations. So, it is very important protect these voluntary contributions.
However there are obligations. There are assessed contributions to the United Nations which are important, for example, for peacekeeping. So, if these obligations are usually not met, we must do drastic cuts in peacekeeping, as we’ve carried out drastic cuts in humanitarian help the world over, with horrible penalties within the lives of individuals.
International locations should do every little thing potential to keep up their commitments to the SDGs and to mobilize assets for growth cooperation
So, international locations should do every little thing potential to keep up their commitments to the Sustainable Growth Objectives and to mobilize assets for growth cooperation and for humanitarian help, figuring out how troublesome it’s. However above all, international locations should adjust to their obligations.
In March, you launched the UN80 Initiative, and this was to create a simpler group that, in your phrases, is extra agile, responsive and resilient and higher geared up to serve the folks whose lives rely on us. That does not sound like an 80 12 months outdated group, however one that you simply hope to resume. What would that UN appear like?
Secretary-Common: Properly, the UN immediately is a constellation of organizations. If we might construct the UN immediately with all its companies, we’ll construct it otherwise. In fact, we can’t impulsively, take into account that we will rebuild the UN from scratch. However there are lots of duplications. There are lots of areas the place there isn’t a efficient coordination. There are lots of areas the place there’s competitors, the place there ought to be collaboration.
And we have to do, on one hand, to be sure that there isn’t a waste, to be sure that there isn’t a duplication in the usage of assets, to be sure that the organizations are extra slim and simpler, and to be sure that they arrive collectively to cut back their prices.
As an example, you’ve got humanitarian companies – they need to preserve their core mandates – World Meals Programme, UNICEF, UNHCR. However they will put in widespread their provide chains, their again workplaces, their premises, in order that there are enormous financial savings that may be made by successfully organizing the United Nations in a method during which every little thing is, I might say, every little thing is used to the advantage of the folks we look after.
And, let’s be trustworthy, bureaucracies are at all times resistant to vary. That is why we took some drastic measures forcing our totally different departments in headquarters and likewise asking the companies to do the identical, to be as slim and as efficient as potential and to work way more for those who we serve as a substitute of for ourselves.
You’ve got usually spoken out on behalf of the world’s younger folks, and you’ve got additionally inspired them to get entangled, together with right here on the Common Meeting. And we will have many younger folks represented right here subsequent week. What can be your message to them on how they will make a distinction in altering the world?
Secretary-Common: I believe my message is for them to be extraordinarily energetic. They are often energetic in so some ways. They are often energetic in social media. They are often energetic in associations which are concerned in key discussions in societies. They are often energetic in humanitarian help. They are often energetic within the political lifetime of their international locations.
[Young people] want to grasp that this world is theirs. It isn’t the long run world that’s theirs – it’s this world that’s theirs
They should perceive that this world is theirs. It isn’t the long run world that’s theirs. It is this world that’s theirs. They usually know they should assume their citizenship and make their citizenship be a power for change, a power for a world during which justice, equality will prevail.
And at last, there’s lots of indifference on the earth. A few of it’s fueled by simply overwhelm and the gloom and doom of the information and the social media. Why ought to folks care about what’s occurring in numerous components of the world and the entire points that you simply simply outlined?
Secretary-Common: As a result of immediately, the world is just one, and what occurs in any a part of the world will have an impact in our personal lives. Have a look at the demography and the actions of individuals – that is certainly one world. Our home is our world, and the issues wherever on the earth are our issues.
Mr. Secretary-Common, thanks very a lot for this interview.
