President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere urged global leaders to prioritize peace during his address at the Summit of the Future, held alongside the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York. He emphasized the importance of respecting human rights as outlined in the UN Charter and underscored the need to protect the environment and its resources across land, sea, and air.
In his speech themed “Summit of the Future; Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow,” President Katonivere pointed out the multiple challenges facing the world, including ongoing conflicts, the worsening climate crisis, and increasing inequalities. He expressed concern that the most vulnerable populations are experiencing the harshest repercussions of these issues.
He warned that future generations would bear the costs of today’s inaction, stating, “Tomorrow it will be our children, their children, and succeeding generations, who will pay the price of our inaction.”
President Katonivere called on leaders to collaborate within a multilateral framework that includes non-state actors, the private sector, and all members of society, urging a shared vision for a sustainable future. He reminded them that there are only six years left until the target year for the Sustainable Development Agenda in 2030, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to achieve this goal.