'Anniversaries are not about celebrating the past; they are about looking ahead'.
With these words, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, began his speech outlining the UN's agenda for 2020. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and the organisation has committed to making it a 'year of urgency' for international development.
In his speech at the beginning of the year, Guterres outlined what he considered to be the 'four horsemen' that presented the greatest threats to the preservation of human rights and the assurance of sustainable progress in the 21st century. The UN 2020 agenda revolves around these four issues:
First, the highest global geostatic tensions of recent years;
Second, the climate crisis as an existential threat to life on the planet;
Third, the deep and growing global mistrust pervading societies across the globe;
Fourth, the threat of the dark side of our digital world.
To tackle the first horseman, Guterres outlined several actions to be taken by the UN in 2020. The most prominent of which is the 2020 Review of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. This review is intended to facilitate the elimination of nuclear weapons and thus eliminate the global threat of nuclear war.
In order to combat the second horseman, the UN is set to hold its next climate conference, COP26 in Glasgow. On top of this, the UN has planned an Oceans conference in Lisbon in order to tackle the problem of plastic waste pollution in oceans. Finally, a Biodiversity conference in Kunming is to be held in order to confront the tragic loss of endangered species as a result of human actions.
The third horseman is to be addressed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As 2020 marks the last 10 years available to reach these goals, the UN has launched its 'Decade of Action' scheme to encourage countries to deliver the SDGs by 2030. Progress is to be monitored by the UN with the introduction of annual SDG Action Forums. In addition to this campaign, the UN has launched a global scheme ‘UN75’ to promote dialogue and collaboration when tackling global issues in order to strengthen international bonds.
To fight against the fourth horseman, the UN has committed to provide a Roadmap for Digital Cooperation. On top of this, the Internet Governance Forum is to increase its capacity in 2020 to serve as a central gathering point for all nations to propose effective digital policies.
Whilst the most pressing threat in 2020 has undoubtedly become COVID-19 pandemic, the UN has not forgotten its other long-term obligations and is still committed to delivering its promised agenda.
When looking at the UN’s aspirations for 2020, one line from Guterres' speech rings particularly true: 'we have our work cut out for us'.