At the World Economic Forum in Davos, UN chief Guterres on Wednesday called for global unity to address pressing challenges, including the climate crisis and geopolitical tensions.
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) chief on Wednesday issued a stark warning about the mounting challenges facing humanity, including the climate crisis and geopolitical divisions, and urged the global community to work together to tackle them.
Addressing the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world was confronting a "Pandora's box of troubles" and emphasized that collaboration is the key to addressing these challenges.
He painted a dire picture of the climate emergency, likening humanity's dependence on fossil fuels to a "Frankenstein monster" that spares no one.
"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 the master," he said. "Sea-level rise, heatwaves, floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires are just a preview of the horror movie to come."
The UN chief urged governments to honor their promises by delivering new climate action plans ahead of the COP30 climate change conference in Brazil. He also called on financial institutions to support the energy transition in developing nations.
Guterres turned his focus to artificial intelligence, acknowledging its potential to revolutionize sectors like healthcare, education, and crisis response. However, he cautioned against the risks posed by AI, including its potential to disrupt economies and labor markets.
He called for urgent and unified action to address these challenges. "As a global community, we must live up to these great responsibilities, and let's do so by working as well in collaboration as the motto of the World Economic Forum." ■