The United Nations urged global leaders on Monday to focus on people and the planet in a New Year’s message depicting the world in chaos.
“As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads. Chaos and uncertainty surround us. Division. Violence. Climate breakdown. And systemic violations of international law,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a video message.
In 2026, as war rages in Ukraine and elsewhere, world leaders must work to ease human suffering and fight climate change, he said.
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“I call on leaders everywhere: Get serious. Choose people and planet over pain,” said Guterres, criticising the global imbalance between military spending and financing for the poorest countries.
Military spending is up nearly 10 per cent this year to US$2.7 trillion, which is 13 times total world spending on development aid and equivalent to the entire gross domestic product of Africa, he said.
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Wars are raging at levels unseen since the second world war, Guterres said.