Brics expected to play greater role in solving global challenges

The BRICS intergovernmental organization can play a greater role in strengthening multilateralism for global development and security, António Guterres said on Thursday.

The UN Secretary-General made these remarks to the group’s summit hosted by Russia in the city of Kazan.

He urged the bloc to help forge a more equitable global finance system, boost climate action, improve access to technology and work towards peace, particularly in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan.

Guterres saluted the BRICS member states’ valuable commitment and support for international problem-solving.

“But no single group and no single country can act alone or in isolation. It takes a community of nations, working as one global family, to address global challenges,” he said.

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The current global challenges include the increase in conflicts, climate change, rising inequalities and lingering poverty and hunger, as well as “a debt crisis that threatens to smother plans for the future of many vulnerable countries.”

Furthermore, the UN chief noted that fewer than one-fifth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track, the digital divide is growing, and bodies such as the UN Security Council and the Bretton Woods institutions lack representation by developing countries.

Insisting that “this must change”, Guterres pointed to the Summit of the Future, held at the UN in September, which put forward a roadmap for strengthening multilateralism and advancing peace, sustainable development and human rights.

Leaders adopted a Pact for the Future covering sustainable development, international peace and security, science and technology, youth and future generations, and transforming global governance.

“The Summit of the Future charted a course to strengthen multilateralism for global development and security. Now we must turn words into deeds and we believe BRICS can play a very important role in this direction,” he said.

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