António Guterres (Secretary-General) on the progress…

UN chief said that "Every day we wait leads us closer to a global breakdown – both physical and political. But while the problems before us are unprecedented, they are not insurmountable." Briefing today (4 Aug) on the progress in the implementation of recommendations contained in the report on "Our Common Agenda", Secretary-General António Guterres said that global shocks are "unabated and growing." "Business as usual will almost certainly guarantee a future of constant crises and devastating risks," he added. Almost one year after the launch of "Our Common Agenda," the Secretary-General said that the need for the proposals in the report has only increased. He noted that in addition to the triple planetary crisis of climate breakdown, air pollution, biodiversity loss, and the suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts are raging across the globe. He also said that the ripple effects of the war in Ukraine have contributed to surging food and energy prices around the world. Guterres highlighted that without resources to invest in recovery from the pandemic and deal with the impact of the war, the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals have been thrown further off course. "Our Common Agenda" was intended as a wake-up call, he said, "One year on, we must ask ourselves: have we woken up?" Talking about the Summit of the Future, he said that it will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvigorate global action, recommit to fundamental principles, and further develop the frameworks of multilateralism so they are fit for the future. The Secretary-General also mentioned the second SDG Summit, which will take place in New York at the midpoint of implementation of the 2030 Agenda next year. Together with the Paris Agreement, he said, these summits are our best chance to deliver on people's demand for a multilateral system that manages and solves global challenges in a timely, effective and fair way. He concluded that "Our Common Agenda" attempts to correct "our course, guided by the United Nations Charter, to build the safer, more resilient, and inclusive world set out in the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals." On the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, Member States pledged to strengthen global governance for the sake of present and coming generations. They requested the Secretary-General to report back with recommendations to advance our common agenda and to respond to current and future challenges (UN75 declaration - A/RES/75/1). His report 'Our Common Agenda' was launched on 10 September 2021. The Our Common Agenda report looks ahead to the next 25 years and represents the Secretary-General's vision for the future of global cooperation. It calls for inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism to better respond to humanity's most pressing challenges.