As wildfires raged across Southern Europe and North Africa, top UN climate scientists said  that it was “virtually certain” that July 2023 will be the warmest on record. Echoing that warning in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that “short of a mini-Ice Age” in coming days, July 2023 would likely “shatter records across the board”. The UN chief added that the consequences were as clear as they were tragic: “children swept away by monsoon rains, families running from the flames (and) workers collapsing in scorching heat.”

Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the need to address global hunger, promote cooperation between businesses and governments, and mitigate the damaging impact of continuing climate change on food production. Addressing the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment, in Rome, Mr. Guterres said that in a world of plenty, “it is outrageous that people continue to suffer and die from hunger.” “Global food systems are broken - and billions of people are paying the price.”

UN Secretary-General launched a new policy brief outlining his vision of a more robust multilateral framework to boost peace and security, for a world in flux. “The post-Cold War period is over, and we are moving towards a new global order and a multipolar world,” António Guterres said. He highlighted geopolitical tensions, grave human rights violations, distrust in public institutions, new conflicts, terrorism, and the weaponization of emerging technologies. Insecurity is being stoked by a rising threat of nuclear war and growing scepticism towards multilateralism, he added.

The United Nations held its annual ceremony to honour the life and legacy Nelson Mandela, the first black President of post-apartheid South Africa who died in 2013. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called Mr. Mandela one of humanity’s greatest heroes. “Nelson Mandela was a colossus of courage and conviction,” he said. “How do we pay tribute to such a giant? Through words of respect, certainly. But we best honour Madiba through action.”  

The United Nations family came together to pay tribute to the 77 members of staff who died in the line of duty in 2022. “We are here to mourn together, to remember together, and to pay our respects together,” Secretary-General António Guterres said at the solemn ceremony, held in the Trusteeship Council chamber at UN Headquarters in New York. Relatives of the fallen personnel, members of the diplomatic community and UN staff from around the world attended the event, both in-person and online.