UN chief warns of ‘winter of discontent’ as he opens global summit
- The Ukraine war is high on the agenda, but Secretary General Antonio Guterres also highlighted growing inequality and the world’s ‘addiction’ to fossil fuels
- Eyes will also be on Iran, whose hardline president, Ebrahim Raisi, is travelling to the General Assembly for the first time
The United Nations’ massive global summit returned on Tuesday with a stark warning from the world body’s chief of a coming “winter of global discontent” from rising prices, a warming planet and deadly conflicts.
After two years of pandemic restrictions and video addresses, the UN General Assembly again asked leaders to come in person if they wish to speak – with a sole exception made for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, while saluting efforts for global cooperation, warned of a dire state of the planet.
“A winter of global discontent is on the horizon,” Guterres said as he opened the annual General Assembly. “Trust is crumbling, inequalities are exploding, our planet is burning. People are hurting – with the most vulnerable suffering the most.”
With global temperatures rising and a chunk of Pakistan the size of the United Kingdom recently under water, Guterres lashed out at fossil fuel companies and the “suicidal war against nature”.
