The G7, made up of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union, meets in the city where the first atomic bomb was dropped in 1945, a place Antonio Guterres called “the tragic consequences”. Global symbol of when nations fail to act together and abandon multilateralism.”
“Every time I visit, I am inspired by the courage and resilience of the hibakusha,” he declared, referring to survivors of that horrific act of war. “The United Nations stands with them. We will never stop fighting for a world free of nuclear weapons.”
Those who have and those who do not
The UN chief said his message to the G7 leaders was clear and simple: “While the economic outlook is uncertain everywhere, rich countries cannot ignore the fact that more than half the world, most countries, are suffering from deep financial crisis.” ..
Guterres reiterated his view, first expressed on an official visit to Jamaica last week, that the problems facing developing countries have three dimensions: moral, power and practical.
Citing the “unfair and systemic biases” of the global economic system, the obsolete nature of the global financial structure and the fact that, even under existing rules, developing economies are undervalued and sold short, the head of the United Nations has confirmed that the G7 now has a duty to act.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meets with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan at the 2023 Hiroshima G7 Summit.
Redistribution of power
The Secretary-General said the financial system created by the Bretton Woods readjustment after World War II “has not fulfilled its primary function as a global safety net” in the face of economic crises caused by COVID and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In his opinion, the time has come to fix the system and reform the UN Security Council.
“It is essentially about the redistribution of power according to the realities of today’s world.”
Guterres said the G7 could not remain a bystander: “In our multipolar world, as geopolitical divisions widen, no country, or group of countries, can stand on the sidelines because billions of people need basic food, Struggling for water, education, health and wellness.” employment”.
Lost the way
Underscoring the dangers of missing the pace on climate change, the United Nations has highlighted specific areas where the world’s richest are critical to successful climate action.
He told reporters that according to current forecasts, humanity is on track for a temperature rise of 2.8 degrees Celsius by the end of this century, and according to the latest data from the UN Meteorological Centre, the next five years are likely to be the hottest on record. agency.
In his opinion, the G7, with its enormous economic and financial weight, is “necessary” for climate action, which is working, “but not sufficient and we are clearly off track”.
“Our acceleration agenda aims to make up for lost time. The plan calls for all G7 countries to reach net zero emissions as close as possible by 2040 and for emerging economies as close as possible by 2050 Is.”
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres joined world leaders to pay respects at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
Phase out coal
Furthermore, the Climate Solidarity Pact urges the G7 to mobilize resources to support less favored economies in accelerating decarbonization to stay within a limit of 1.5° compared to pre-industrial levels.
“This requires rapid timelines for phasing out fossil fuels and increasing renewable energy. This means putting a price on carbon and ending fossil fuel subsidies. I am committed to completely phasing out coal by 2030. call on the G7,” he declared. Guterres.
Finally, the Secretary-General called for climate justice on behalf of those countries that have contributed least to the crisis but suffered most. “It’s time for the developed countries to pledge $100 billion a year.”
And he also reiterated that the loss and damage fund agreed during COP27 “should be brought into operation” in 2022.
