By AFP - Agence France Presse
Humanity has opened a “Pandora's box of evils”, warns UN chief
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Wednesday that humanity has opened a “Pandora's box of evils”, including “out-of-control technology” that risks ending “our very existence”.
The UN chief was setting out his priorities in a speech to the General Assembly for the coming year, at a time when the organization is facing unprecedented crises and polarization.
“Our actions - or inactions - have unleashed a Pandora's box of modern-day evils,” Guterres said.
“Four of these evils stand out because they represent, at best, threats that could disrupt every aspect of our agenda and, at worst, end our very existence: Rampant conflict. Rampant inequality. The raging climate crisis. And technology is out of control.
Guterres' organization is facing some of the worst crises in its history.
The organization's main decision-making body, the Security Council, is paralyzed. The war in Gaza has caused Israel and its allies to attack UN neutrality, and the blue-helmeted peacekeepers have been caught in the crossfire in Lebanon and Syria.
'Our tumultuous world'
The return of US President-elect Donald Trump to the White House could further complicate Guterres' agenda, experts warned.
“Yes, there is progress in our tumultuous world,” Guterres said, pointing to the relative success of the ceasefire in Lebanon and the pace of renewable energy development.
“But let's not delude ourselves: this is a very tumultuous world with grave uncertainties.”
“Conflicts are multiplying, becoming messier and more deadly. Deepening geopolitical divisions and mistrust are adding fuel to the fire. The nuclear threat is at its highest in decades,” he said.
As the conflict spreads in Sudan and Gaza, Guterres said that “the human rights spectrum is under constant attack. Impunity is endemic - with serial violations of international law, international humanitarian law, and the UN Charter - and systematic attacks on our institutions.”
As efforts to broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza appear to be nearing a breakthrough, Guterres reiterated his call for a lasting ceasefire.
“I make a strong appeal to all parties to finalize a ceasefire and hostage release agreement,” he said.
He also expressed concern about the ongoing reorganization in the Middle East - from Iran to Syria - and what this could lead to.
“Across the region, we are seeing a reshaping of the Middle East. What is much less clear is what will emerge,” he said.
The UN chief, who for years has made the fight against global warming one of his priorities, again denounced that fossil fuel companies are “ravaging and devastating our world”.
“You need look no further than the hills of Los Angeles. They've gone from disaster movie set to disaster set,” he said.
Guterres also announced a new conference on climate change, to be held before the next COP climate talks in Belem.
“We will convene a special event to take stock of all countries' plans, press for action to keep 1.5 (degrees Celsius of warming from pre-industrial levels) within reach, and deliver climate justice.”
© 2025 AFP
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