Interview with António Guterres: ‘More hunger and migrations because of the climate crisis. We must act now’

NEW YORK - Secretary General Antonio Guterres, during your opening remarks at the UN Food Summit in Rome, you said that «More than 780 million people are going hungry while nearly one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted.» Therefore you asked «urgent action in three key areas. First - a massive investment in sustainable, equitable, healthy and resilient food systems. Second - governments and businesses must work together to build systems that put people over profit. Third - we need food systems that can help end the senseless war on our planet.» What feedback did you receive and what would be the most urgent and concrete actions to take, in order to address the food crisis already underway?

«Before I answer your question, I want to thank the Italian government for its great support for this Food Summit and all of our initiatives around this vital global issue. I also want to say thank you for Italy’s steadfast support over the decades for all of the UN’s food agencies based in Rome - the Food and Agricultural Organization, the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Rome is a great home for these agencies and I can tell you we never have any problems convincing UN staff to move to Rome! Now, let me turn to your question.

First, we must never forget that food systems are all about people. They are about fulfilling a basic human right - the right to food.

The Food Systems Summit two years ago helped shine a spotlight on a core truth: global food systems are broken - and billions of people are paying the price.

The stocktaking meeting in Rome demonstrated that countries are taking concerted action to change this, and to ensure that every person, in every community, has access to healthy, nutritious food, no matter where they live.

Countries presented national pathways on food systems transformation and shared their progress. But we need to do much more, much faster.

This urgency was reflected in my Call to Action, built around six key objectives. From embedding food systems strategies across all national policies, and establishing governance that brings together the public and private sectors, communities and civil society. To investing in research, innovation and technology, and promoting the engagement and accountability of the business community. To ensuring the full participation of women, young people as well as indigenous peoples at the local level.

Above all, we need to ensure long-term, accessible finance, investments, budget support, social protection and debt-restructuring. This must include making the SDG Stimulus a reality and designing solutions to debt, including by reforming the international financial architecture and strengthening the role of Multilateral Development Banks.»

Climate change is compromising food production and security everywhere, threatening the survival of millions of people. What are the most urgent steps needed to address the general issues of climate change and rising temperatures, and their specific effects on the emergency of the food crisis?

«Your analysis is correct. As we speak, we are living in the hottest month ever recorded in human history. Italians have been living through a historic heat wave which, in my two days in Rome, I witnessed first hand.

So what do we do? First, leaders have to lead. Whether in government or in the private sector we need action now. Limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius is still possible, but it will require carbon emissions to be cut by 45% by 2030. To help get us there, I have proposed a Climate Solidarity Pact - in which all big emitters would make extra efforts to cut emissions, and wealthier countries would support emerging economies to do so. And I have put forward an Acceleration Agenda to supercharge these efforts.

But food systems transformation is also critical to ending the senseless war on our planet, reducing carbon emissions and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Currently, unsustainable food production, packaging and consumption are feeding the climate crisis, generating one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions, using 70 per cent of the world’s freshwater, and driving biodiversity loss on an epic scale.

Transformation means new, sustainable food systems that can reduce the carbon footprint of food processing, packaging and transportation.

It also means harnessing new technologies to reduce the unsustainable use of land, water, and other resources in food production and agriculture.

Countries must also align the implementation of national food systems transformation pathways with their climate plans and targets - including investing in the resilience of agricultural systems and reducing the vulnerability of food producers who depend on these natural resources. Food systems and climate action must go hand-in-hand.»

The invasion of Ukraine is exacerbating the food crisis as well, and you worked very hard to keep the Grain deal in place, by sending a pragmatic proposal to President Putin that he didn’t accept. Do you still see the possibility for a UN involvement to start a serious diplomatic initiative to stop the war, or at least keep open the grains exports, and how?

«I deeply regret the decision by the Russian Federation to terminate the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative and I am deeply disappointed that my proposals went unheeded. The Black Sea Initiative -- together with the Memorandum of Understanding on facilitating exports of Russian food products and fertilizers -- have been a lifeline for global food security and a beacon of hope in a troubled world.

In the space of 12 months, the Black Sea Initiative has enabled the safe export of close to 33 million metric tons of food from Ukrainian Black Sea Ports to 45 countries, aboard more than 1,000 outbound vessels. And the Memorandum of Understanding has also delivered concrete results over the past year, supporting increased volumes of Russian agricultural products to reach global markets.

It is clear that when taking out of the market millions and millions of tonnes of grain, based on economic laws, this will lead to higher prices than the ones that would exist with the normal access of Ukrainian grain to international markets. And these price increases will be paid by everybody, everywhere, and in particular, by developing countries and by the vulnerable people in middle-income and even developed countries.

That being said, I will not stop my efforts to facilitate the unimpeded access to global markets for food products and fertilizers from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation. We will go on with determination with all our contacts, with all parties - Türkiye, Ukraine, Russia and other countries that are relevant from the point of view of the global market - in order to reestablish the Black Sea Initiative.

While there’s nothing that gives me much optimism about the a quick end to this conflict, we'll go on trying to be useful, offering platforms of dialogue for these aspects to minimise the suffering of people.»

As you recently said, the decision to terminate the Black Sea Initiative has a negative impact particularly on vulnerable people that don’t have the luxury to choose otherwise. Food insecurity has already a severe effect particularly in North and Sub-Saharan Africa, where the Niger crisis just happened, increasing migration to Europe and opportunities for terroristic groups operating in the region as well. What should be done to help this people now?

«Indeed, many communities are one shock away from plummeting into food insecurity or even famine, and that dire picture has grown bleaker with the Russian Federation’s termination of the Black Sea Initiative. The Russian Federation and Ukraine are both essential to global food security and they have historically accounted for roughly 30 per cent of global wheat and barley exports, a fifth of all maize, and more than half of all sunflower oil.

As I just said, I remain committed to facilitating the unimpeded access to global markets for food products and fertilizers from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and to deliver the food security that every person deserves.

More broadly, we need to find new ways to invest in food systems that can reach every person. Starving food systems of investment means - literally - starving people.

At the stocktaking in Rome, I urged governments to respond to our call for an SDG Stimulus to scale up affordable long-term financing for all countries in need, by at least 500 billion dollars a year. We also need greater investments in adaptation and resilient food, health, water, sanitation and agriculture systems that can withstand shocks, as well as early warning systems. I called on governments to support the Food Import Facility proposed by the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance to expand food accessibility for at least 50 countries facing acute food insecurity, and a Food Stockholding Mechanism for least-developed countries, and the Joint SDG Fund’s Window on Food Systems, launched in Rome.»

The Italian government has recently adopted the state of emergency to limit migration. As UN Secretary-General, but also former High Commissioner for Refugees and Prime Minister of a country directly involved in this issue like Portugal, do you think this is the most effective and right approach, taking into consideration the emergency that climate change and food insecurity are creating particularly in the countries where migrants are coming from?

«I had a very good and very serious discussion with the Prime Minister of Italy Meloni on this issue and we agreed that no country alone can tackle such a humanitarian challenge. This cannot be an Italian problem alone. It is vital that there is coordinated action within the European Union. Members of the EU have to work together to limit the root causes of irregular migration, as well as to enhance the benefits of regular and well-managed migration for the countries of destination and for migrants themselves.

Migration is a positive global phenomenon, but it needs to be done for the benefit of migrants, and for the countries of origin and destination. Currently the migratory routes in the Mediterranean, and elsewhere, are in the hands of human traffickers. That cannot stand, as the tragic consequences are clear for all to see.

Let’s also remember that migration should be a choice. It needs to be an act of hope and not despair. That’s why we also need to invest massively and globally to tackle the drivers of forced migration - climate change, food insecurity, governance, and many others. It is essential to provide more opportunities for people to be able to live in dignity in their own countries and regions.»

During your meeting with the Italian Prime Minister Meloni you talked about Libya. The UN Special Representative Abdoulaye Bathily recently proposed a new initiative to have elections in the country. When do you think it will be possible to have elections, and what else is needed to stabilize the country, where many foreign entities like the Russian mercenaries group Wagner are operating?

«Understandably, Libya is an important issue for Italy, and the Prime Minister and I had a thorough discuss on the issue. The people of Libya have expressed their strong desire for free, credible and democratic elections, and it is now overdue for their leaders to attentively listen to their voices. Successful elections require not just a legal framework, but also a political agreement that ensures buy-in and inclusion of all major stakeholders.

My Special Representative for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, has continued engaging with a wide range of Libyan stakeholders as part of his initiative to enable successful elections. As part of these efforts, Mr. Bathily and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) have supported Libyan-led and Libyan-owned efforts towards organizing the elections, including through supporting the work of the 6+6 Committee.

I know that there have been efforts regarding the draft electoral law. However, the remaining contentious points in these laws must be addressed through a constructive and inclusive approach to ensure buy-in from all main stakeholders. Short of this, there is a risk that a new crisis might be triggered.

Mr. Bathily also continues to consult with key security actors in all regions of Libya, including the 5+5 Joint Military Commission, to encourage them to support the electoral process in a spirit of compromise and national reconciliation.

There is an urgent need for a Libyan-Libyan solution to devise a way to organize the elections. The United Nations will continue to support these efforts in order to respond to the aspirations of the Libyan people for legitimate institutions and prosperity.»

You recently spoke at a Security Council meeting about Artificial Intelligence. Do you see AI as a useful tool to help the solution of some of these problems, or as a potential threat to our security?

«I have been following the development of AI for some time. Indeed, I told the General Assembly six years ago that AI would have a dramatic impact on sustainable development, the world of work, and the social fabric. But like everyone else, I have been shocked and impressed by the newest form of AI, generative AI, which is a radical advance in its capabilities.

It is clear that AI will have an impact on every area of our lives - including the three pillars of the United Nations. It has the potential to turbocharge global development, from monitoring the climate crisis to breakthroughs in medical research. It offers new potential to realize human rights, particularly to health and education. AI is being put to work in connection with peace and security, including by the United Nations. It is increasingly being used to identify patterns of violence, monitor ceasefires, and more, helping to strengthen our peacekeeping, mediation, and humanitarian efforts. So indeed, AI can be a useful tool to solve some of our most serious global problems.

But AI tools can also be used maliciously by terrorists, criminals or even states to cause horrific levels of death and destruction and psychological damage on an unimaginable scale. Both military and non-military applications of AI could have very serious consequences for global peace and security. The interaction between AI and nuclear weapons, biotechnology, neurotechnology, and robotics is deeply alarming; and malfunctioning AI systems are another huge area of concern.

Generative AI can also be used to create and amplify disinformation and hate speech - undermining truth, facts, and safety; adding a new dimension to the manipulation of human behaviour; and contributing to polarization and instability.

I welcome calls from some Member States for the creation of a new United Nations entity to support efforts to govern this extraordinary technology, inspired by such models as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization, or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. As a first step, I am convening a multistakeholder High-Level Advisory Board for Artificial Intelligence that will report back on the options for global AI governance, by the end of this year.

So the United Nations is deeply involved in efforts to maximise the potential of AI while safeguarding humanity from its risks.»