Prioritize transition to Net-Zero Emissions Economy, Fairer Globalization: Guterres
Munich: The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today warned that the nuclear disarmament regime was eroding — despite the welcome decision of the United States and the Russian Federation to extend the New START [Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms] treaty.
“Our global tests and challenges are getting bigger and more complex. Yet, our responses remain fragmented and insufficient,” Guterres said in his virtual address on “Priorities for Global Action”at the Munich Security Conference, here today.
Pointing out that while COVID-19 has X-rayed the world, exposing deep fissures and fragilities, he said those vulnerabilities go well beyond pandemics and public health. Besides the erosion of the nuclear disarmament regime, climate catastrophe too wasilooming; inequality and discrimination were ripping the social fabric; corruption is destroying trust; the struggle for women’s rights faced a pushback; the Sustainable Development Goals were off track; and, “Wild West behaviour” in cyberspace had created new vectors of instability.
“Now, 2021 must be the year to get back on track,” he stressed, and said in his opinion following four imperatives stood out. Firstly, A global vaccination plan. Vaccines must be available and affordable for everyone, everywhere. Vaccine equity is crucial for saving lives and for saving economies. Countries need to share excess doses and provide the billions needed for the COVAX initiative to be in full swing. “We also need at least a doubling of global manufacturing capacity, through sharing of licenses and technology transfer. I believe the Group of 20 (G20) is well placed to establish an emergency task force to prepare such a global vaccination plan, bringing together the countries, the companies and the international organizations and the financial institutions with the required power, scientific expertise and production and financial capacitie,” he said, adding that he was ready to “galvanize the full United Nations System in support of this effort, starting by the World Health Organization (WHO)”.
Second, to reach net‑zero greenhouse‑gas emissions by mid-century. There was reason for hope, as now countries representing more than 65 per cent of emissions and more than 70 per cent of the world economy have committed to net‑zero greenhouse emissions by 2050. “Let’s expand this coalition to 90 per cent by the November Climate Conference in Glasgow,” he said. He added that all countries, cities, corporations and financial institutions should set benchmarks to implement the net-zero transition in the next 30 years. This should start now with concrete steps: to put a price on carbon; to end subsidies and financing for coal and other fossil fuels; and to reinvest those funds in renewable energy and in just transition.
Third, to ease geopolitical tensions and enhance diplomacy for peace. “We cannot solve the biggest problems when the biggest Powers are at odds. Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe into two opposing areas in a Great Fracture — each with its own dominant currency and trade and financial rules, its own Internet and its artificial intelligence capacity and strategy,” he said. A technological and economic divide risks turning into a geostrategic and military divide. “We must avoid this at all costs,” he added. he also repeated his call for a global ceasefire. We have seen some encouraging signs in a few stubborn peace processes. But, elsewhere, fighting continues. Everyone is losing. We also need a ceasefire beyond traditional battlefields: In homes, workplaces, schools and public transportation, where women and girls face an epidemic of violence. And in cyberspace, where attacks of all kinds are happening every day. Digital technologies must be a force for good — and that requires also a total ban on lethal autonomous weapons, the most dangerous dimension that artificial intelligence can bring to the future of war.
Fourth, to re-define global governance for the twenty-first century. The collective security arrangements agreed more than 75 years ago have prevented a third world war. “Our common principles must endure for the twenty‑first century. That means ensuring new ways to deliver global public goods, to build a fair globalization and solve common challenges. We do not need new bureaucracies, he said.
Guterres said there was a need to strengthen multilateralism so that the world has a networked multilateralism that links global and regional organisations, economic and political entities; and an inclusive multilateralism that engages businesses, cities, universities and movements for gender equality, climate action and racial justice. And a multilateralism that respects the rights of future generations.
“Many believe that growing multipolarity in the world will guarantee by itself peace. But, let us heed history. More than a century ago, Europe was multipolar — but there were no multilateral governance mechanisms. The result was the First World War. Now is the time for solidarity and international cooperation to tackle our even bigger and more complex challenges. I am convinced that if we are determined, we can achieve our shared goals,” he said.
– global bihari bureau
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