With global tensions rising and “reckless actions” triggering dangerous consequences, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday called for renewed efforts on peace, justice and sustainable development as he outlined his priorities for 2026 – the final year of his tenure.
29 January 2026 - 2026 “is already shaping up to be a year of constant surprises and chaos,” he told journalists in New York.
Mr. Guterres – who trained as a physicist before entering public life – said that during times of profound flux, he returns to fixed principles that explain how forces act.
Generating 'positive reactions'
Among them is Newton’s Third Law of Motion which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
“As we begin this year, we are determined to choose actions that generate concrete and positive reactions,” he said.
“Reactions of peace, of justice, of responsibility, and of progress in our troubled times.”
Chain reaction
Today, impunity is driving conflicts – fueling escalation, widening mistrust, and allowing powerful spoilers to enter from every direction.
“Meanwhile, the slashing of humanitarian aid is generating its own chain reactions of despair, displacement, and death,” as inequalities deepen.
He highlighted climate change – “the most literal and devastating illustration of Newton’s principle” – as actions that heat the planet trigger storms, wildfires, hurricanes, drought and rising seas.