Antonio Guterres opens UNGA with focus on development goals

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the 2022 UN General Assembly on Monday by highlighting the need to promote and execute the Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the UN in 2015.

“We meet at the moment of great peril for our worlds,” Guterres said. “it is tempting to put our long-term development priorities to one side to leave them for a sunny day. But development cannot wait.”

World leaders are gathering at the United Nations this week under the shadow of Europe’s first major conflict since World War II.

The annual General Assembly meeting is taking place as many countries across the globe are also confronting inequality, an escalating climate crisis, the threat of multiple famines, and increasing misinformation and hate speech.