UN secretary-general calls for action on global inequalities, justice

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged stronger action to tackle widening global inequalities, saying developing countries face mounting debt, climate pressures, and technological gaps that threaten progress toward sustainable development.

Addressing foreign ministers of developing countries coalition the G77 and China in New York, Guterres said the group’s long-standing campaign for a fairer international system remains essential as conflicts, economic pressures, and climate change continue to undermine development.

“The G77 and China’s quest for justice must continue,” Guterres said, pointing to deepening inequality and stalled progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

He said developing countries need greater financial support, noting that they require an additional $4 trillion annually to achieve the goals set out in the 2030 Agenda.

Guterres urged reforms to the international financial system, including greater participation by developing countries and expanded financing through multilateral development banks.

“Developing countries are drowning in debt,” he said, calling for more concessional finance and measures to unlock investment in areas most in need.

Climate change, he added, is placing another heavy burden on developing countries, with extreme heat, floods, droughts, storms and rising seas threatening livelihoods and reversing development gains.

Guterres called for more adaptation financing and greater resources for countries facing climate-related loss and damage.

“The clean energy transition must reduce global inequalities — not reproduce them,” Guterres said.

On artificial intelligence, Guterres called for developing countries to have a meaningful role in shaping global rules and access to technology.

“Artificial intelligence should benefit all countries, not just those that can afford it,” he said.

Justice must remain central to efforts on finance, climate, technology, and global governance, he said, as countries seek to protect development gains and advance peace.