With a new decade dawning and the United Nations marking its seventy-fifth anniversary, Secretary-General António Guterres warned the General Assembly today that 2020 is also beginning in the midst of four existential threats — surging geopolitical tensions, the climate crisis, dangerous technology and deepening mistrust — against which the international community must mobilize rapidly.

“The risk of a great fracture is real”, Mr. Guterres emphasized, as he delivered an extensive briefing on the work of the Organization ahead of a question-and-answer session with delegates. Spotlighting the significant achievements of the United Nations in its 75 years, he called upon Member States to use the anniversary to cast their eyes to the future reiterating that “four horsemen in our midst” pose particular threats to humanity. Amid epic geostrategic tensions and the existential global climate crisis, he said, there is growing mistrust among peoples and technology is advancing at a faster pace than humans can control.

Citing the massive fires raging across Australia, he noted that rising temperatures around the globe continue to melt records, with ocean temperatures increasing at a rate of five Hiroshima bombs per second. “We are at war with nature and nature is fighting back hard”, he said. Gradual approaches to climate change are no longer enough, he added, asking Member States — especially those that have contributed most to the current crisis — to make concrete commitments and green investments.

He went on to warn against threats posed by the “dark side of the digital world”, adding that despite signs of hope in 2019, the international community has much more work ahead in that regard. Member States should create the conditions needed for peace enforcement, coupled with sustainable funding, and redouble efforts to combat violence and extremism. Meanwhile, with mistrust sparking disquiet and discontent, societies around the globe are churning as fear and hatred grow, he said, adding that more and more people distrust institutions and feel that existing systems do not work. He called upon Member States to help build a fairer version of globalization and urged Governments — and the United Nations — to listen more closely to their peoples.

Following the briefing — which was held in January, as specifically requested by Member States, instead of during the Assembly’s usual September session — the Secretary-General took part in an informal question-and-answer session with delegates, who then delivered national statements on the contents of his briefing as well as his annual report on the Work of the Organization (document A/74/1).

Togo’s representative, speaking on behalf of the African Group, joined other speakers in expressing his commitment to multilateralism as the only way to solve collective global challenges. Agreeing with the Secretary-General’s assessment that contemporary challenges — from climate change, conflicts, violent extremism and terrorism to resource scarcity and environmental degradation — are becoming more complex, he warned that such threats now jeopardize the modest development progress made to date.

The Head of the European Union delegation pledged to work with all partners in building a United Nations that delivers for all people. Vowing to push forward crucial reforms aimed at reducing bureaucracy and ensuring better outcomes, he welcomed the new decade as a crucial one for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals and for defending and promoting human rights. Countries must also ensure that ambitious action mirrors their climate promises, he said, spotlighting the newly proposed European Green Deal as a positive example.

Saint Lucia’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), emphasized the need for greater attention to the Secretary-General’s alarming warnings on climate change. He expressed particular concern over the report’s assertion that the world remains far off track from the targets enshrined in the Paris Agreement and its warning of “potentially catastrophic” consequences for development.

The representative of Cyprus was among speakers who welcomed the decision to move today’s debate to the beginning of the calendar year, in response to requests from various delegations. He proposed that, going forward, the annual report on the state of the Organization be regularly presented in January — when the term of the General Assembly President could also begin — enabling him or her to better prepare for the year ahead. Holding a meeting on common global threats during the Assembly’s autumn session, or during its busy annual high-level week, presents many challenges, he cautioned.

In other business, the Assembly took note of letters from the Secretary-General (documents A/74/642/Add.3, A/74/642/Add.4 and A/74/642/Add.5, respectively), in which he informed members that Lesotho, Tonga and Yemen have made the necessary payments to reduce their arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Also speaking today were representatives of Norway (on behalf of the Nordic countries), Guyana (on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), Belize (on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States), Burkina Faso (on behalf of the “Group of Five” Sahel countries), Cuba, Jamaica, Singapore, Spain, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Venezuela, Armenia, Pakistan, Ecuador, Costa Rica, India, Canada, Iran, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt and Tajikistan.

The Head of the European Union delegation also delivered a statement.

The General Assembly will reconvene at a date and time to be announced.

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