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This is the time to put 'united' back into UN
By Ban Ki-moon |
September 29, 2009, Tuesday
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EVERY September, the world's leaders gather at the United Nations to reaffirm our founding Charter - our faith in fundamental principles of peace, justice, human rights, and equal opportunity for all.
This year is different. The 64th opening of the General Assembly asks us to rise to an exceptional moment. We are facing many crises - food, energy, recession, and pandemic flu - occurring all at once.
If ever there were a time to act in a spirit of renewed multi-lateralism, a time to put the "united" back into the United Nations, it is now. And that is what we are doing, as action on three issues of historic consequence demonstrates.
First, world leaders are uniting to address the greatest challenge we face as a human family - the threat of catastrophic climate change.
Last week, 101 leaders from 163 countries met to chart the next steps toward December's all-important UN climate change conference in Copenhagen. They recognized the need for an agreement that all nations can embrace - in line with their capabilities, consistent with what science requires, and grounded in "green jobs" and "green growth," the lifeline of a 21st century global economy.
Japan issued a challenge, agreeing to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent by 2020 if other nations follow.
China's President Hu Jintao spoke about all that his country is already doing to reduce energy intensity and invest in "green" alternatives. He emphasized that China is prepared to do more under an international agreement, as did US President Barack Obama.
We saw another turning point on a second issue of existential importance: nuclear disarmament. Finally, the assumption that such weapons are needed to keep the peace is crumbling. At a special summit called by the President Obama, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that opens a new chapter in the UN's efforts to address nuclear proliferation and disarmament.
That resolution improves prospects for expanding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty next May, and offers hope for bringing the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty into force.
The world is united on a third front, as well. Though some may speak of "turning the corner to recovery," we see a new crisis emerging.
According to our recent report, "Voices of the Vulnerable," the near-poor are becoming the new poor. An estimated 100 million people could fall below the poverty line this year. Markets may be bouncing back, but jobs and incomes are not. That is why, earlier this year, the UN put forward a Global Jobs Pact for balanced and sustainable growth.
Rhetoric has always been abundant at the General Assembly, action sometimes less so. Yet listening to the world's leaders speak, last week, I was struck by their passion, commitment, and collective determination to turn a page from a past of countries divided by narrow interests to nations united in the cause of a global common good.
From confronting climate change to creating a world without nuclear weapons to building a more equitable and sustainable global economy, I saw a spirit of renewed multi-lateralism, with the UN at the fore.
(The author is secretary-general of the United Nations. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2009. www.project-syndicate.org)
This year is different. The 64th opening of the General Assembly asks us to rise to an exceptional moment. We are facing many crises - food, energy, recession, and pandemic flu - occurring all at once.
If ever there were a time to act in a spirit of renewed multi-lateralism, a time to put the "united" back into the United Nations, it is now. And that is what we are doing, as action on three issues of historic consequence demonstrates.
First, world leaders are uniting to address the greatest challenge we face as a human family - the threat of catastrophic climate change.
Last week, 101 leaders from 163 countries met to chart the next steps toward December's all-important UN climate change conference in Copenhagen. They recognized the need for an agreement that all nations can embrace - in line with their capabilities, consistent with what science requires, and grounded in "green jobs" and "green growth," the lifeline of a 21st century global economy.
Japan issued a challenge, agreeing to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent by 2020 if other nations follow.
China's President Hu Jintao spoke about all that his country is already doing to reduce energy intensity and invest in "green" alternatives. He emphasized that China is prepared to do more under an international agreement, as did US President Barack Obama.
We saw another turning point on a second issue of existential importance: nuclear disarmament. Finally, the assumption that such weapons are needed to keep the peace is crumbling. At a special summit called by the President Obama, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that opens a new chapter in the UN's efforts to address nuclear proliferation and disarmament.
That resolution improves prospects for expanding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty next May, and offers hope for bringing the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty into force.
The world is united on a third front, as well. Though some may speak of "turning the corner to recovery," we see a new crisis emerging.
According to our recent report, "Voices of the Vulnerable," the near-poor are becoming the new poor. An estimated 100 million people could fall below the poverty line this year. Markets may be bouncing back, but jobs and incomes are not. That is why, earlier this year, the UN put forward a Global Jobs Pact for balanced and sustainable growth.
Rhetoric has always been abundant at the General Assembly, action sometimes less so. Yet listening to the world's leaders speak, last week, I was struck by their passion, commitment, and collective determination to turn a page from a past of countries divided by narrow interests to nations united in the cause of a global common good.
From confronting climate change to creating a world without nuclear weapons to building a more equitable and sustainable global economy, I saw a spirit of renewed multi-lateralism, with the UN at the fore.
(The author is secretary-general of the United Nations. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2009. www.project-syndicate.org)
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