In Davos, the UN Secretary-General warns of existential threats, calling for global cooperation

The UN Secretary-General issued a strong warning about the growing challenges humanity faces, emphasizing the climate crisis, unchecked artificial intelligence, and geopolitical divisions in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted that the world is facing a “Pandora’s box” of problems, pointing to escalating conflicts, economic inequalities, growing disparities, and attacks on human rights, as well as outdated governance systems that are ill-suited to address contemporary challenges.

“We are living in a world that is increasingly without a rudder,” he said, lamenting the lack of effective and farsighted cooperation among global leaders.

Addressing geopolitical tensions, Guterres mentioned fragile progress in the Middle East. He welcomed the recent ceasefire and prisoner release agreement in Gaza, stating that efforts are underway to provide urgently needed humanitarian aid.

“I think it is important, first of all, to acknowledge that the ceasefire in Gaza is the product of the work of many people, and I will commend the United States, Qatar, and Turkey for their efforts for months and months to ensure the release of hostages… and also to secure the ceasefire,” he said.

Calling the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and the hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas a “success,” he expressed cautious optimism that this could translate into a process leading to a permanent ceasefire that allows the reunification of Palestinian occupied territories and serious negotiations for a two-state solution.

However, he warned, “The other possibility is that Israel may feel emboldened by military successes and may think that this is the moment to annex the West Bank and keep Gaza in a state of oblivion.”

“It is clear to me that Israel is not fundamentally interested in Gaza. It is fundamentally interested in the West Bank,” he said, emphasizing that annexation would be a total violation of international law.

In recent months, Israeli officials have increasingly spoken openly about taking over the West Bank, the Palestinian territory currently illegally occupied by Israel, in an attempt to block efforts to establish a Palestinian state.

The UN Secretary-General also praised developments in Lebanon, where a ceasefire is holding, and a new government has emerged after a two-year political stalemate.

Guterres said he felt optimistic about Lebanon but noted that there is no guarantee the ceasefire would continue.

“I believe the ceasefire is holding, and my hope is that we will witness a Lebanon that will finally have an effective government,” he said. “So, I am optimistic about this, but we still have no guarantees that this ceasefire will hold and lead to lasting peace.”

He expressed hope that Syria would have a government representing all communities, but warned of a strong risk of fragmentation and extremism in at least parts of the Syrian territory.

“Syria is still a question mark, but it is in all our interests to engage so that things move in the direction of an inclusive form of governance in Syria, where all minorities feel represented,” he warned.

He stressed that peace remains a struggle in the region and beyond.

“From the Middle East to Ukraine, to Sudan, and beyond, we still face a difficult battle. But we will never give up on calls for peace based on the values of the UN Charter,” he said, reiterating the importance of international law and sovereignty.

Guterres painted a grim picture of the climate emergency, describing humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels as a “Frankenstein monster” that spares no one.

He noted that 2024 is likely to be the year humanity surpasses the critical 1.5°C warming threshold, warning that this is only a preview of the catastrophic consequences to come.

“Our dependence on fossil fuels is a Frankenstein monster, sparing nothing and no one. Around us, we see clear signs that the monster has become the master,” he said. “Rising sea levels, heat waves, floods, storms, droughts, and fires are just a preview of the horror movie to come.”

Chastising financial institutions and industries withdrawing from climate commitments, he said, “I want to say loudly and clearly that this is short-sighted and paradoxically, it is selfish, but also self-destructive.”

“You are on the wrong side of history,” he said. “You are on the wrong side of science.”

He urged governments to honor their commitments to provide new climate action plans ahead of the COP30 climate change conference in Brazil and called on financial institutions to support the energy transition in developing countries.

Only after regaining the presidency on Monday, Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change, also pledging to increase the exploration and use of fossil fuels—steps that scientists warn could push the Earth into a dangerous hot territory.

Turning to artificial intelligence, Guterres acknowledged its potential to revolutionize sectors like healthcare, education, and crisis response but warned of its risks.

“Artificial intelligence can be used as a tool of deception. It can disrupt economies, labor markets, and their core trust in institutions and… have chilling effects on the battlefield,” he said.

He defended the Global Digital Compact, adopted in September, describing it as a framework to ensure that AI serves humanity rather than undermines it. The compact emphasizes equal access to technology, human rights, and global cooperation to mitigate the risks associated with the rapid expansion of AI.

“The United Nations is committed to leading these efforts, and we are working with governments, industry, and civil society to ensure that AI becomes a tool of opportunity, inclusion, and progress for all people,” he said.

He concluded with a call for urgent and unified action to address these intertwined challenges.

“Now is the time to wake up to these existential challenges—and face them head-on,” he urged. “As a global community, we must meet these great responsibilities, and let’s do this by working as well in cooperation as the motto of the World Economic Forum.”

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