World’s complex challenges are great, but not insurmountable, Assembly President says, opening 77th session

“Solutions, because we have drafted many treaties, set excellent goals, yet have taken too little action,” he explained.

“We need solidarity because inequalities have reached record height… sustainability because we owe it to our children to leave behind a liveable world...[and] science because it offers us neutral evidence for our actions”.

‘Permanent state’ of emergency

Mr. Kőrösi stated that climate change has triggered heatwaves, floods, and droughts while unsustainable consumption and production have left scars across our environment.

“We live, it seems, in a permanent state of humanitarian emergency,” he said, pointing out that over 300 million people are in urgent need of aid and protection – a 10 per cent rise since January – and that climate change, COVID-19 and conflict have pushed global hunger to “alarming levels”.

Meanwhile, inflation is at 40-year highs as violence has left one-quarter of humanity caught in instability.

War in Ukraine

“Who would have imagined that war would return to Europe? That the nuclear threat would be back in political discourse to settle a dispute with a neighbour?”, the Assembly President asked, noting that 203 days after adopting a resolution condemning the military aggression against Ukraine, the bloodshed continues.

He then elaborated on some positive developments, including a landmark agreement on commercial grain exports, diplomacy working to release fertilizers and UN nuclear inspectors preventing a possible catastrophe at one of Europe’s key nuclear sites.

‘Watershed moment’

Noting the debate’s theme, “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges,” Mr. Kőrösi declared his solidarity with Pakistan, where devastating floods washed away hundreds of villages.

He described “heart-wrenching scenes of devastation,” as a possible “window into our future”.

However, advancements in science cooperation and climate diplomacy are on-hand solutions to tackle climate change, “but we have to want to put them in practice,” said the senior UN official.

Noting that the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has proven invaluable in supporting political decisions to combat the climate crisis, he recommended replicating its success in the areas of water, energy, food and biodiversity as “a universally accepted, empirical starting point for action”.

“Once this high-level week is over, I plan to launch a series of consultations with the scientific community, asking them to help us bring…knowledge from microscopes to microphones,” he said.

Setting the agenda

The Assembly President said that the 77th session would be “key” in preparing the SDG Summit in 2023, and the Summit of the Future in 2024.

“Next year, we will assess SDG 6 at the UN Water Conference – the first since 1977,” he informed the world leaders, flagging that “this call could not be more urgent”.

As water is set to be the next major global driver of conflict, he outlined a threefold problem of “too much, not enough, [and] not safe”.

The session will also assess the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, he continued, maintaining that along with the 2030 Development Agenda, Paris Agreement, Addis Ababa Action Agenda on development financing and Our Common Agenda, it describes the world we want and offers avenues to get there.

“The challenges are great. And they are interconnected. But they are not insurmountable,” Mr. Kőrösi upheld.

Human rights ‘smoke signal’

He underscored the importance of universal respect for the rule of law, warning that when human rights come under threat, “it is our smoke signal, our call to action”.

He described women’s rights as the “fundamental issue found to be lacking in most societies around the world”, saying that it was “simply unacceptable that every third woman experiences violence in her lifetime” while adding that they are often excluded from decision-making and leadership.

It is only when everyone is included, “that we will find solutions to the challenges we face,” attested Mr. Kőrösi.

“Data shows that crisis response is more effective when women take the lead,” he continued, encouraging everyone to engage with equity, equality and human dignity.

Revitalizing the Security Council

The Assembly President offered his support to Member States and underscored the importance of “bringing our efforts out of this Hall and into our communities”.

To revitalize the Organization’s relevance in the eyes of the world, he announced his intention to advance negotiations for reforming the UN Security Council to more equitably represent 21st century realities.

“This is a matter of credibility for our entire Organization and our multilateral order,” he asserted.

“Our opportunity is here and now. Let us act”.