War, runaway AI and climate shocks to take center stage as world leaders meet at UN

At the United Nations General Assembly, world leaders will grapple with a multitude of pressing issues that threaten humanity and the planet. The annual gathering comes amid a backdrop of ongoing wars in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo, and Myanmar, as well as the escalating effects of climate change and economic turmoil. Central concerns include the potential existential threat posed by unchecked artificial intelligence, alongside the enduring problem of global warming and widening economic inequalities between and within nations.

Critically, the future of the United Nations itself will be a focal point. Established at the end of World War II, the UN's 193 member states have approved a series of reforms aimed at updating its key institutions, particularly the Security Council dominated by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France. However, implementing these reforms proves challenging given the entrenched power dynamics and lack of consensus among member states.

A central figure in the UN's leadership transition is UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose second five-year term concludes on December 31. No clear successor has emerged, prompting speculation about who will lead the organization in the coming years. Meanwhile, the spotlight will shine on several world leaders who are expected to address the assembly, including U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Their speeches follow UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' opening remarks on the state of the world. Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will address the assembly on Wednesday, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose treatment of Palestinians in Gaza has been contentious, will speak on Thursday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is excluded from attending physically due to the U.S. government's refusal to grant him a visa, though he will deliver his address via video.

The U.S., host of the UN, faces a delicate balancing act. It is obligated to permit diplomats from all member nations to attend meetings, yet its financial contributions to the organization's regular operating budget remain contentious. The U.S. has recently paid $725 million of its dues, averting a potential loss of voting rights, but this does not erase the underlying financial challenges that have compelled the UN to cut back on its peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts.

Among the issues awaiting resolution, the agenda includes a high-level meeting on the burgeoning influence of artificial intelligence, with leaders of major AI companies warning of the technology's risks and urging a pause. However, U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed these concerns as "a hoax," advocating for continued technological advancement to maintain the U.S.'s competitive edge.

The UN Security Council has thus far added a high-level meeting on AI to its agenda, reflecting the escalating apprehension regarding this transformative technology.

VETERAN U.N. OBSERVER Richard Gowan notes that while the UN has not yet hit the crisis point it faced in 2024, it remains ensnared in a prolonged state of crisis and trauma. The UN's financial troubles, coupled with its diminished ability to prevent and resolve major conflicts, underscore the urgent need for reform and renewed commitment from global leaders.