–reforms required at UN level to address global crises, President Ali tells world leaders

CRUCIAL reforms are required at the level of the United Nations (UN) to ensure global issues are addressed urgently and effectively, President, Dr Irfaan Ali said during his firm presentation at the “Summit of the Future”- sixth plenary session, on Monday.
Guyana’s Head of State urged world leaders to channel their efforts towards creating an ecosystem of harmony among the environment, people, and technology, and promoting human dignity.
“The task for us now is to move from ambition to action,” Dr Ali said, pointing to the key issues which include climate security, food security and energy security.

“Let us not rehash the climate story. We know it. We must act now. Climate finance commitments can no longer be postponed. Forests are an integral part of the climate solution, and it is time that a global market-based mechanism for carbon credit be put in place.
“Our global food security continues to deteriorate, and the projections are alarming. It is estimated that $90 billion in annual Global Financing will be needed between now and 2030 to provide a basic social safety net; if you’re not able to meet the basic need of feeding our people the entire agenda 2030 is in peril,” President Ali said.

He further pointed out that the digital divide must be bridged to ensure artificial intelligence (AI) benefits everyone.
The Head of State reiterated that reforms are needed in global institutions, including the Security Council, to ensure inclusivity and peace.
He reasoned: “You must not be divided on addressing the digital divide. Too many, too many still lack the basic [ability] of connectivity. AI can be a positive game changer for humanity, but also has the potential to widen the gap between countries and people if we do not bridge the digital divide. Our global community has a responsibility to ensure that AI is, of course, for good that benefits everyone.”
President Ali further pointed out that leaders must define an implementation plan for the future to address the challenges in building a life of dignity for every global citizen.

He alluded to the deteriorating global food security and the alarming projections for the next decade.
“We must reform international financial architecture and make it more inclusive and conducive to sustainable development for all, but sustainable development cannot flourish without peace and security. We must end and prevent wars. The Security Council must also be reformed to be more representative, responsive and democratic, if not, it will lose both its credibility and relevance,” Dr Ali said.

The Head of State also highlighted the importance of addressing gender-based violence, poverty, and education for women and youth, aiming for a sustainable future that meets the needs of all global citizens.
He emphasised: “The future we envision must target, directly, the more than 340 million women and girls projected to live in poverty by 2030. It must also address the 110 million young women and girls projected to remain out of school by 2030; the 24 per cent of women and girls projected to be food insecure; and the 245 million women and girls that [sic] would experience sexual or gender-based violence by 2030.”
A sustainable future, Dr Ali said, must be built in mind of the aspirations of the 1.3 million additional youths the world will have by 2030.

The Head of State is currently leading a delegation in New York. On Wednesday, he will address the General Debate and participate in several bilateral meetings with other Heads of State, such as Santiago Pen̵a, President of Paraguay and Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador.
According to the UN, the General Debate is the annual meeting of Heads of State and Government of the 193 UN member states. It takes place at the beginning of the General Assembly session, often known as UNGA.
It is usually the first debate of the session and, with the exception of the concurrent high-level meetings, the only one in which Heads of State and Heads of Government regularly participate.

From the UNGA, President Ali is expected to travel to the United Kingdom on the invitation of Concordia and Oxford University to address climate-studies students on the Guyana case study and its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) model.
While in the United Kingdom, President Ali is scheduled to meet with newly appointed Foreign Secretary David Lammy and receive the People’s Choice Award as the Caribbean’s Global Leader 2024.