Guterres delivers final speech as UN Secretary-General

Antonio Guterres delivered his final opening speech as United Nations Secretary-General during the 81st UN General Assembly on September 22. Guterres will step down from the position on January 1 after completing two terms.

During the address, Guterres described global conflicts, inequality, the climate crisis, and artificial intelligence as interconnected chapters in a single story regarding the shift of power. He noted that power is moving from states and governments toward large corporations, individuals, and machines, while international institutions still reflect the balances of eighty years ago.

Guterres identified four major challenges for the 21st century: peace and security, inequality, climate, and artificial intelligence. Regarding peace and security, he urged leaders to use the high-level week to stop fighting, reopen dialogue, and allow aid to pass. He specifically addressed the October 7 Hamas attack and the Israeli offensive in Gaza, describing the scale of death and destruction in Gaza as unprecedented during his time at the UN.