In an address to the General Assembly, UN Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged the “turmoil of our world while striking a note of cautious optimism for 2025.
The key developments, including a long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza, advancements in climate action, efforts to reduce inequality, and the ethical harnessing of artificial intelligence, offer glimpses of hope amid adversity.
Delivering his traditional New Year speech, Guterres reflected on the ongoing global challenges and empathised with feelings of being overwhelmed. However, he urged delegates not to lose sight of progress and potential, pointing to the ceasefire in Lebanon, which remains largely intact, and the country’s successful election of a president following a two-year political deadlock.
Beyond conflict zones, the UN chief spotlighted significant strides in climate action. He noted that global investments in clean energy now surpass those in fossil fuels, with solar and wind power emerging as the cheapest and fastest-growing sources of electricity in history. These developments underscore the UN’s commitment to combating climate change.
Yet, Guterres warned against complacency, emphasising that inaction and inadequate responses have opened a “modern-day Pandora’s Box” of challenges, including prolonged wars, deepening inequality, the climate crisis, and the unchecked rise of disruptive technologies. Human rights, he cautioned, are under growing attack as conflicts multiply worldwide.
On the Middle East, Guterres called for the initiation of the Gaza ceasefire, stressing the need to deny extremists the power to derail peaceful progress. He revealed plans to travel to Lebanon, buoyed by recent breakthroughs that could pave the way for lasting peace and security between Israelis and Lebanese.
Elsewhere, the Secretary-General highlighted persistent crises in Ukraine, Sudan, the Sahel, and Haiti, reaffirming his belief that inequality can be defeated through accelerated progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and multilateral reform across all fronts.
Closing his address, Guterres drew inspiration from the myth of Pandora’s Box, noting the often-overlooked detail that one thing remained inside after the horrors were unleashed: hope.
“We will never lose sight of hope,” he concluded, urging the world to channel hope into action for a better future.
