UN Chief closes 80th General Assembly with call to address violence, climate and development challenges

Madam President of the General Assembly, Mr. President-Elect, 

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, 

Thank you for joining us. 

Today, we close the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. 

This Assembly took place at a moment of profound challenge for humanity. 

We have seen the destruction, death and displacement of multiplying conflicts…

The inequalities, injustices, hunger and poverty that result from a system that is stacked against those who are most vulnerable…

Another year of record-breaking heat, as our climate shoots past the 1.5-degree limit…

The possibilities and perils of world-changing technologies like artificial intelligence...  

And the wide financing gap that impedes progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

And the United Nations was created precisely for moments like these. 

And by wielding the timeless tools of diplomacy, debate and dialogue, this 80th General Assembly came together to develop solutions.  

For her extraordinary efforts across this work, I want to acknowledge the leadership of the outgoing President of this 80th session — Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock. 

Throughout her presidency, she has been a formidable champion of our founding document — the UN Charter — and the three pillars of our Organization:

Peace and Security; 

Human rights; 

And development. 

Against the backdrop of the milestone 80th anniversary of this Organization, she took every opportunity to remind Member States that they cannot cherry-pick which aspects of the Charter they want to follow. 

All Member States have an obligation to ensure that the force of law prevails over the law of force. 

That peaceful means are the only way to settle disputes.

And that all States, large and small, act in conformity with the principles of justice and international law — always [and] without exception. 

Throughout your tenure, Madam President, you reminded us that we can work “Better Together.” 

I thank you for your work to rebuild trust in the multilateral system through the implementation of [the] important actions contained in the Pact for the Future… 

For your commitment to reform, through the UN80 Initiative process — in particular, Workstream 2 around mandates…

For organizing the selection process for the next Secretary-General, strengthening transparency and inclusivity throughout…

And for being a powerful and consistent voice for women’s rights globally. 

Your leadership has helped advance a more effective, responsive and accountable United Nations.

I look forward to collaborating with your successor — President-Elect Khalilur Rahman — as we continue building solutions through solidarity.  

Excellencies, 

Eighty-one years after the founding of this Organization, our founding principles are needed more than ever. 

In these tumultuous times, all countries need to stand together, work together, and find solutions together. 

As we close this session, and prepare to open the next one, let’s hold fast to the spirit of collaboration and common purpose that has defined the United Nations from the start. 

And let’s keep rebuilding trust in what we can achieve by standing as one. 

Thank you.