As the world enters a new year marked by conflict, climate stress and deepening divisions, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged global leaders to reassess their priorities and place people and the planet at the heart of decision-making.
In his New Year message, Guterres warned that the world is sliding deeper into chaos and uncertainty, citing rising violence, the accelerating climate crisis, systematic violations of international law and the erosion of shared principles that bind humanity together.
“The world is at a crossroads,” he said in a recorded address. “Around us, everything is chaos and uncertainty. Divisions. Violence. Climate breakdown. Systematic violations of international law. A questioning of the fundamental principles that unite us as a human family.”
Looking ahead to 2026, the UN chief issued a direct appeal to political leaders worldwide to take responsibility and act decisively. He stressed that the scale of human suffering can no longer be ignored and that collective courage is urgently needed.
“For 2026, I call on leaders everywhere: take responsibility. Enough of the suffering. Put people and planet first,” Guterres said, urging individuals and institutions alike to play their part. “Our future depends on our ability to find the collective courage to act.”
A central point of his message was the stark imbalance between global military spending and funding for humanitarian and development assistance. Guterres highlighted that global military expenditure rose by nearly 10 percent in the past year, reaching $2.7 trillion, an amount he described as deeply alarming.
“This is 13 times more than total development assistance and equivalent to the combined GDP of the entire African continent,” he noted, adding that this surge comes at a time when armed conflicts are at their most intense since the Second World War.
As he prepares to enter the final year of his term as Secretary-General of the United Nations, Guterres called for a fundamental shift in global priorities. He argued that real security can only be achieved by investing in poverty reduction, social cohesion and climate action rather than escalating militarisation.
“In this new year, let us decide to rethink our priorities,” he said. “If we want a safer world, we must invest more in fighting poverty and less in war. Peace must prevail.”