UN calls to work to reverse multiple global crises

United Nations, Sept 20 (Prensa Latina) UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged world leaders to work to reverse the multiple crises that plague the world and particularly affect developing countries.

During the opening day of the high-level debate of the 77th session of the General Assembly, Guterres warned that the planet is facing a growing number of conflicts, climate emergencies, a dire financial situation and setbacks in progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

The purchasing power crisis rages, confidence crumbles, inequalities soar, our planet burns, people suffer, especially the most vulnerable as we are locked in a colossal global dysfunction, he said.

At this point, he called on the dignitaries present to make use of cooperation and dialogue in pursuit of the solutions that the populations demand.

The damage caused by natural disasters was an important topic in Guterres’ speech, who acknowledged how these disproportionately affect countries with fewer resources.

He then urged all developed economies to tax the profits of fossil fuel companies and allocate them to those suffering losses and damages caused by climate crises and to populations facing hardships due to food and energy prices.

The fossil fuel industry is feasting on hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies and windfall profits while household budgets shrink and our planet burns, he argued.