UN Secretary-General Urges G77, China to Advance Financial, Climate, Technological Justice
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on the Group of 77 and China to continue their efforts to promote justice, development, and peace in the face of escalating conflicts, a worsening climate crisis, widening inequalities, and slow progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking at a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of 77 at the United Nations headquarters on Friday, Guterres emphasized the need for continuous advocacy for justice amidst global challenges. He highlighted that conflicts are prevalent, ceasefires are being violated, human rights and international law are disregarded, climate change is intensifying, inequalities are deepening, and the world is lagging behind in achieving its development goals.
Development, according to the Secretary-General, is the primary catalyst for equality, human dignity, prosperity, and peace. He identified four crucial areas of justice:
- Financial Justice: Developing countries bear increasing debt burdens, requiring an additional $4 trillion annually to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Guterres urged multilateral development banks to enhance investment and encouraged shareholders to expedite reforms, provide fresh capital, expand concessional finance, and attract private investments. He also advocated for enhanced participation and influence of developing nations in the international financial architecture to align with today's global economy.
- Climate Justice: The climate crisis disproportionately affects developing countries, leading to extreme weather events, loss of lives and livelihoods, and setbacks in development achievements. Guterres called for tripling adaptation finance, increased resources for loss and damage, and effective early warning systems to safeguard individuals worldwide. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that developing nations benefit from the renewable energy revolution, as clean energy investments are outpacing those in fossil fuels but not equitably distributed.
- Technological Justice: Developing countries should have access to modern technologies, with a focus on digital connectivity and artificial intelligence.
Guterres noted the Group of 77's leadership in various initiatives under the Sevilla Platform for Action, encouraging them to continue efforts towards global economic governance reforms, including the Borrowers' Platform and negotiations on the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.