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Analysis

UN Secretary-General Calls for G20 Leadership, Deepening Multilateralism, Reforms to Global Governance Ahead of Rio G20 Summit

Peter Ma, G20 Research Group
November 18, 2024

In a briefing delivered at the G20 summit press centre in Rio, UN secretary general António Guterres repeatedly stressed the importance of multilateralism and reforming global governance institutions in resolving many of the world’s deepening and emerging crises. He named the deepening climate crisis and global warming, proliferation of conflicts that frequently violate the UN charter, growing inequality, rising poverty, the failure to meet Sustainable Development Goals, and new technologies that can be used for good and ill as the fundamental issues facing the world today.

To address these fundamental issues, Guterres said that global institutions desperately need an upgrade, as the world today is facing very different problems than those of 80 years ago. He also said that strong leadership from G20 members and leaders is especially important in this process of addressing fundamental issues, as the G20 members wield tremendous diplomatic and economic influence worldwide. He pointed to the Pact for the Future, approved by world leaders in September, as a milestone blueprint for resolving such fundamental issues through collective action.

Guterres stressed the importance of peace and ending the suffering of people in conflict zones. He called for peace in Gaza, achieved through a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also called for a ceasefire in Lebanon, peace in Ukraine achieved through following UN resolutions and international law, and peace in Sudan to address the humanitarian crisis there.

With regards to international finance, Guterres called for a more representative and fair international financial architecture to allow all countries to borrow safely and ensure a safety net exists for countries recovering from economic shocks.

Guterres expressed concern about the negotiations at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku. He stressed that failure was not an option. Guterres argued for ambitious climate financing goals that meet the scale of challenge for developing countries. With the G20 members accounting for 80% of global emissions, they must all meet their national climate plans and uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Developed countries must aid developing countries’ climate adaptation and mitigation efforts by contributing to climate finance funds. Thus, Guterres called upon G20 leaders to instruct their COP29 negotiators to negotiate differently and ensure success.

Guterres also called for an end to coordinated misinformation campaigns that stalled climate progress, such as false information, greenwashing and harassment of climate workers. He also called for global dialogue on artificial intelligence (AI), and requested developed countries to fund AI development for developing countries starting in 2025.

In his answers to questions from journalists, Guterres expressed support for reforms to the UN Security Council to increase its legitimacy. Guterres said that the addition of new members, potentially permanent members, from unrepresented regions such as Africa and Latin America, revising the work method, and increasing the role of the Global South in the Security Council. Guterres opposed double standards on Gaza and condemned Hamas, but stated the actions of Hamas did not permit collective punishment of Palestinians. He stated that the Pact for the Future demonstrates that, for the first time, all countries agreed to reform the global governance system. With regards to rising political instability in Mozambique, Guterres called for peaceful dialogue and expression of multiple opinions as a pathway to resolve tensions. He also argued that the best response to a second Trump presidency is for countries to recognize multilateralism as the core for addressing fundamental issues such as debt, climate and AI.

Peter Ma is a researcher with the G20 Research Group, and a third-year student at the University of Toronto majoring in political science and international relations.

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