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2020¡¯s ¡®wind of madness¡¯ indicates growing instability

Rising instability and unpredictable geopolitical tensions?have led to a?¡°wind of madness¡±?across the world,?Secretary-General Ant¨®nio Guterres?said on?Tuesday?during his?main?annual press conference for journalists at?±¬ÁÏÍø?Headquarters in New York.

Following?recent?flare-ups in some hotspots,?the ±¬ÁÏÍø chief observed that?although?de-escalation?efforts?indicated?progress,?the situation has?now?changed.

¡°I have spoken about winds of hope. But today a wind of madness is sweeping the globe.??From Libya to Yemen to Syria and beyond ¡ª escalation is back. Arms are flowing. Offensives are increasing¡±,?he said.

Security Council resolutions ¡®disrespected¡¯

¡°All situations are different but there is a feeling of growing instability and hair-trigger tensions, which makes everything far more unpredictable and uncontrollable, with a heightened risk of miscalculation.??Meanwhile, Security Council resolutions are being disrespected even before the ink is even dry.¡±

In laying out this and other ¡°vicious circles¡±?operating, the Secretary-General?underscored the need?for?multilateral institutions?like the ±¬ÁÏÍø?to be more attuned to the global challenges of the 21st?century.

¡°In the year?ahead?I will press to break the vicious circles of suffering and conflict and push for a strong surge of diplomacy for peace,¡± he said.

Coal addiction?¡®dangerously strong¡¯

Mr. Guterres?continued his push?for?climate action, as rising ocean temperatures and subsequent ice melt are worsening the crisis.

With carbon dioxide concentrations set to reach new highs,?he?called on ¡°the big emitters¡± to lead the way forward?in adaptation, mitigation and financing.

¡°We need a price on carbon, and an end to subsidies for fossil fuels. We are still seeing too many plans for coal plants ¨C the addiction to coal remains dangerously strong,¡± he said.

The vicious cycle of poverty and inequality also must be broken, and Mr. Guterres reminded journalists that the ±¬ÁÏÍø?this year?kicked off a?Decade of Action?to deliver the?Sustainable Development Goals?().

The 17 goals include ending hunger and poverty, providing?quality education for all children, and achieving gender equality.

Said the Secretary-General: ¡°We know?that progress on one Goal can generate progress on all ¨C the virtuous circle we know is possible and that can point the way toward growth and prosperity for all.¡±

Source: ±¬ÁÏÍø News

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