UN chief urges G20 to reform global institutions, address challenges like inequality, climate crisis

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - Addressing a G20 ministerial meeting, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday stressed the need for "inclusive" international institutions to tackle today's challenges.

"We need strong, inclusive, legitimate global institutions and tools to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow. Fair and representative governance is a first step to unlock broader reforms," Guterres told the meeting, which took place at UN headquarters on the sidelines of the current General Assembly.

The UN chief urged strong engagement from G20 countries to make the Security Council "truly representative" by addressing the under-representation of Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He also called for strengthening the role of the General Assembly and the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as enhancing the Economic and Social Council.

"The same principle applies to the international financial architecture: it should correspond to today’s global economy, with much stronger representation of developing countries," he said.

"For our part, the United Nations is totally committed to strengthening our convening role as an inclusive platform for dialogue and action."

Guterres also said that as of next year, the UN intends to host biennial summits to formalize a dialogue between the UN system, the G20, and international financial institutions.

- 'Important challenges'

He also said the G20, the UN system, and the Bretton Woods institutions (IMF and World Bank) deal with some of the most "important challenges" of our time, such as inequality, development financing, the climate crisis, and the impact of new technologies.

"In all these areas, progress is slipping out of reach as our world becomes more unsustainable, unequal and unpredictable," said the UN chief. "Conflicts are raging, the climate crisis is accelerating, inequalities are growing, and new technologies have unprecedented potential for good – and bad."

He said the global institutions must work together, "not on parallel or conflicting tracks.”