The UN has described the current global situation as “uniquely dangerous,” with risks of major power conflict at the highest levels since the Cold War, the likelihood of nuclear war greater than in decades, and the climate crisis fueling migration and exacerbating tensions.
“We are facing a collapse of international law obligations and a growing number of conflicts. The statistics are truly alarming,” said Asif Khan, director of Policy and Mediation at the UN Department of Peacekeeping and Political Affairs.
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A drone flies over Mount Tamalpais in the US.
Offline and online threats
Conflict, violence, humanitarian needs and displacement have reached unprecedented levels. A quarter of humanity included one in five childrenlives in areas affected by conflict, and 2023 saw the highest number of deaths from conflict in nearly three decades.
There are also new threats to deal with, as new technologies are weaponized to cause maximum damage in a highly interconnected world. Incidents involving malicious use of digital technology are increasing in scale and severity, experts sayand armed drones are used in conflict by armies and terrorists, often to attack civilians. There are fears that advances in artificial intelligence, quantum technology and life sciences could give individuals vast powers to cause death and disruption.
Mr Guterres also points to social media companies and how they fuel misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, all of which can have fatal consequences: “Social media platforms, which largely operate without human rights-compliant regulations against online harms, have developed irresponsible business models that prioritize profits at the expense of the well-being and safety of their users and societies,” Guterres said. writes.
© WFP/Tsiory Andriantsoarana
Cross-border concerns
“We live in a global village,” says Mr Khan. “The climate emergency is not something that can be dealt with within the borders of a few countries.”
The dangers of the climate crisis to people and the planet are well known: record temperatures, erratic rainfall and rising sea levels are causing crop losses, destruction of vital infrastructure and displacement of communities.
The crisis is also making the world more unstable and potentially creating new areas of conflict, as basic necessities such as agricultural land and water come under unprecedented pressure, particularly due to contested claims on land and maritime territory.
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Young people take part in a pro-democracy demonstration in Myanmar.
A new agenda for peace
Against this charged background, a New Agenda for Peacethe UN’s first global peace plan in decades, was published in 2023 and was packed with recommendations for changing the way the UN – and the international community – operates.
“The New Agenda is a visionary document. It is far-sighted and a report for our times, outlining the current threats in a very sober and realistic way,” Mr. Khan said. “It places a strong emphasis on diplomacy for peace and using the UN as the ultimate global arena for solving major problems. It also proposes improvements in conflict prevention, including anticipating where conflicts may arise in the future.”
The New Agenda emphasizes that conflicts do not appear out of thin air: their root causes include poverty; unequal societies that dispossess and frustrate many people; development gaps between regions and countries; and the climate crisis. Addressing these issues is at the heart of preventive diplomacy, which involves engaging with parties to disputes before conflicts arise.
The proposed solutions cover areas ranging from peacekeeping and peacebuilding to disarmament and reform of the Security Counciland inclusion – ensuring that as many elements of society as possible, including women and youth, are involved in defusing conflict and building lasting peace.
UN Women
Women from a village in the Indian state of Bihar gather for a community meeting.
‘We all have to do our part’
“If you have the broadest group of actors agreeing to a deal, it is much more likely to be sustainable and long-lasting,” Mr. Khan argues. “When you have peaceful societies, it usually means that everyone in that society is trying to do their part, whether they are activists, working in a civil society organization or just doing their job as responsible citizens and having a voice. I think we all have to do our part.”
The recommendations set out in the Secretary-General’s new Agenda for Peace have been taken into account in the Pact for the futureadopted by UN Member States at the Summit for the Future in September 2024.
The pact contains a number of commitments regarding international peace and security, including calls on all countries to abide by the decisions of the International Court of Justice; a voluntary agreement among the permanent members of the Security Council to refrain from using the veto when the Council wishes to take measures to prevent or stop genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes; and to address the risks posed by new and emerging technologies.