UN chief said that “Every day we wait leads us closer to a global breakdown – both physical and political. But while the problems before us are unprecedented, they are not insurmountable.”

Briefing today (4 Aug) on the progress in the implementation of recommendations contained in the report on “Our Common Agenda”, Secretary-General António Guterres said that global shocks are “unabated and growing.”

“Business as usual will almost certainly guarantee a future of constant crises and devastating risks,” he added.

Almost one year after the launch of “Our Common Agenda,” the Secretary-General said that the need for the proposals in the report has only increased.

He noted that in addition to the triple planetary crisis of climate breakdown, air pollution, biodiversity loss, and the suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts are raging across the globe.

He also said that the ripple effects of the war in Ukraine have contributed to surging food and energy prices around the world.

Guterres highlighted that without resources to invest in recovery from the pandemic and deal with the impact of the war, the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals have been thrown further off course.