UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stirring call for 2025 to be embraced as "a new beginning" as we stand on the cusp of the new year. His message, released on December 30, 2024, emphasizes the urgent need to address myriad global challenges exacerbated over the past year.
Throughout 2024, Guterres noted, hope has been elusive, overshadowed by wars, suffering, and displacement. "Wars are causing enormous pain, suffering and displacement," he remarked, highlighting the grim reality where inequalities and divisions are rising, feeding tensions and distrust among nations.
Pointing to the climate crisis, Guterres observed there has been "a decade of deadly heat," with the last ten years being the hottest on record, including 2024 itself. "This is climate breakdown – in real time," he asserted, making it crystal clear: the planet is at a tipping point. "We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no time to lose," he insisted.
With 2025 on the horizon, Guterres called on countries to shift course and enact significant measures to restore safety and balance. He emphasized the necessity of dramatically slashing emissions and supporting the transition to renewable energy. He expressed firm belief, stating, "It is both necessary and achievable."
Yet Guterres's message was not entirely bleak. Amid the darkness, he spotlighted reasons for hope. He commended both young and old activists raising their voices for progress and humanitarian heroes who overcome immense obstacles to support those most vulnerable. "Even in the darkest days, I've seen hope power change," he stated passionately.
The Secretary-General also pointed to countries striving for financial and climate justice as sources of optimism. He lauded innovation, commending scientists and innovators who are pushing boundaries for humanity's benefit. Guterres particularly mentioned the global unity exhibited during the adoption of the 'Pact for the Future' by world leaders earlier this year.
This pact, as Guterres explained, serves as "a new push" for building peace through disarmament and prevention, reforming the global financial system, and ensuring the rights of all nations are represented fairly. He stressed the importance of creating opportunities for women and youth, reinforcing grassroots solutions amid global challenges. He also emphasized the need for regulations ensuring technology serves humanity rather than profit-driven motives, stating, "We must prioritize people over profits and rights over runaway algorithms."
With the tides of uncertainty rolling forward, Guterres reminded, "There are no guarantees for what’s ahead in 2025." Despite this, he stood resolute, saying, "I pledge to stand with all those who are working to forge a more peaceful, equal, stable, and healthy future for all people."
His message closes with conviction and collaboration at its core, emphasizing unity: "Together, we can make 2025 a new beginning. Not as a world divided. But as nations united." This collective spirit is precisely what Guterres highlights as the key to overcoming the multifaceted challenges humanity faces on the path forward.