“My appeal to world leaders is clear: This is not a time for posturing or positioning. This is not a time for indifference or indecision, this is a time to come together for real, practical solutions. It is a time for compromise for a better future,” Guterres said at a press conference.

“If we want a future of peace and prosperity based on equity and solidarity, leaders have a special responsibility to achieve compromises in designing our common future policy for our common good,” he added.

UNGA, which this year is being held in line with other events including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit, represents a unique moment for global leaders to not only assess the state of the world, but also to act for the common good.

The meeting, Guterres added, comes at a time when humanity faces enormous challenges: from the worsening climate emergency to escalating conflicts, the global cost of living crisis, growing inequalities and dramatic technological disruptions.

However, geopolitical divisions are undermining responsiveness with the emergence of a multipolar world, which can be a balancing factor but can also lead to escalating tensions, he warned.

pll/mem/ebr