At Davos, Guterres slams backsliding on climate commitments
The world’s political and business elite present in Davos on Wednesday faced an uncompromising address from UN chief António Guterres who criticized a lack of global cooperation in the face of climate change and the harmful use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Mr. Guterres was speaking at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum held in the Swiss Alps, where senior politicians, Heads of State and influential company executives gather.
The UN Secretary-General took aim at the theme of this y ear’s meeting, Collaboration for the Intelligent Age, maintaining that there has been scant proof of working together – or even intelligence:
“Our fossil fuel addiction is a Frankenstein monster, sparing nothing and no one. All around us, we see clear signs that the monster has become master. We just endured the hottest year and the hottest decade in history; 2024 is likely to be the first calendar year that pushed past 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Now, breaching this limit does not mean the long-term goal of keeping the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees is shot. It means we need to fight even harder to get on track.”
Mr. Guterres maintained that some financial institutions and industries “are backtracking on climate commitments” – leaving them “on the wrong side of history” and science – while consumers “are looking for more sustainability, not less”.
The UN chief also pointed to the climate crisis and the “ungoverned expansion” of AI, which can disrupt economies, undermine trust in institutions and deepen inequalities.
To keep AI in check, the Secretary-General urged support for the UN’s Global Digital Compact – part of the Pact for the Future that was adopted by UN Member States last September.
It offers a “roadmap to harness the immense potential of digital technology and close digital divides” with a shared vision of AI serving humanity, Mr. Guterres explained.
Somalia: Aid partners seek $1.42 billion to help 4.6 million people
To Somalia, and a joint appeal for $1.4 billion from the UN, aid partners and the country’s authorities to help millions of people who need lifesaving humanitarian support and protection.
“Recurrent shocks, food insecurity and malnutrition remain widespread across Somalia,” warned George Conway, who’s the top UN aid official there.
In a statement in support of the aid appeal to help 4.6 million people of the nearly six million in need, Mr. Conway said that this year’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan will provide lifesaving assistance, particularly to vulnerable groups such as women, children and the elderly.
The UN official explained that the situation in Somalia improved slightly in 2024 compared to previous years, when “widespread conflict, devastating droughts and flooding” were the norm.
The improvements last year were the result of investments in early warning systems and community preparedness, as well as improved cooperation between humanitarians and the authorities, Mr. Conway explained.
Intensifying airstrikes in Myanmar add to civilians’ misery: OCHA
The security situation in Myanmar remains highly volatile, with intensified airstrikes across multiple regions and significant civilian casualties, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Wednesday.
In an alert, OCHA said that between 15 and 17 January, airstrikes and clashes in southeast Myanmar reportedly left nine dead and dozens injured.
Conflict between the Myanmar military and civilian groups, including armed insurgents, escalated after generals overthrew the democratically-elected government in February 2021.
In southeastern Rakhine state, OCHA said that three airstrikes in Mrauk-U Township on 18 January reportedly killed 28 people, while in the northwest, more airstrikes left 19 dead.
OCHA has expressed grave concern for the safety of civilians and warned that communities affected by the violence have only limited access to essential services.
Daniel Johnson, UN News.
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Source of original article: United Nations (news.un.org). Photo credit: UN. The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views or opinion of Global Diaspora News (www.globaldiasporanews.com).
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