Eight billion people, one humanity _ The Daily Star

Views Journalism Without Fear or Favour
WEDNESDAY, November 16, 2022

Eight billion people, one
humanity
António Guterres
Tue Nov 15, 2022 12:00 AM Last update on: Tue Nov 15, 2022 01:35 AM
Demonstrators participate in a protest during COP26, in London. Photo: Henry

Nicholls/Reuters
T he world's population will reach the 8 billion mark today – a

testament to scientific breakthroughs and improvements in
nutrition, public health and sanitation. But as our human family
grows larger, it is also growing more divided.
Billions of people are struggling; hundreds of millions are facing

hunger and even famine. Record numbers are on the move seeking
opportunities and relief from debt and hardship, wars and climate
disasters.
Journalism Without Fear or Favour
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Unless we bridge the yawning chasm between the global haves and
have-nots, we are setting ourselves up for an 8-billion-strong world
filled with tensions and mistrust, crisis and conflict.
The facts speak for themselves. A handful of billionaires control as

much wealth as the poorest half of the world. The top one percent
globally pocket one fifth of the world's income, while people in the
richest countries can expect to live up to 30 years longer than those
in the poorest. As the world has grown richer and healthier in
recent decades, these inequalities have grown too.
On top of these long-term trends, the accelerating climate crisis

and the unequal recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic are
turbocharging inequalities. We are heading straight for climate
catastrophe, while emissions and temperatures continue to rise.
Floods, storms and droughts are devastating countries that
contributed almost nothing to global heating.
The war in Ukraine is adding to ongoing food, energy and finance

crises, hitting developing economies hardest. These inequalities
take their greatest toll on women and girls, and on marginalised
groups that already suffer discrimination.
Many countries in the Global South face huge debts, increasing

poverty and hunger, and the growing impacts of the climate crisis.
They have little chance of investing in a sustainable recovery from
the pandemic, the transition to renewable energy, or education and
training for the digital age.
Anger and resentment against developed countries are reaching

breaking points.
Toxic divisions and lack of trust are causing delays and deadlock
on a host of issues, from nuclear disarmament to terrorism to
global health. We must curb these damaging trends, repair
relationships and find joint solutions to our common challenges.
Journalism
The first step is acknowledging that Without Fearinequality
this runaway or Favour is a
choice, and one that developed countries have the responsibility to
reverse – starting this month at the UN climate conference in Egypt
and the G20 summit in Bali.
I hope COP27 will see a historic Climate Solidarity Pact under

which developed and emerging economies unite around a common
strategy and combine their capacities and resources for the benefit
of humankind. Wealthier countries must provide key emerging
economies with financial and technical support to transition away
from fossil fuels. That is our only hope of meeting our climate
goals.
I also urge leaders at COP27 to agree on a roadmap and

institutional framework to compensate countries in the Global
South for climate-related loss and damage that is already causing
enormous suffering.
The G20 summit in Bali will be an opportunity to address the

plight of developing countries. I have urged G20 economies to
adopt a stimulus package that will provide governments of the
Global South with investments and liquidity, and address debt
relief and restructuring.
As we push for action on these medium-term measures, we are

working non-stop with all stakeholders to ease the global food
crisis.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative is an essential part of those efforts. It

has helped to stabilise markets and bring food prices down. Every
fraction of a percent has the potential to ease hunger and save lives.
We are also working to ensure Russian fertilisers can flow into

global markets, which have been severely disrupted by the war.
Fertiliser prices are up to three times higher than before the
pandemic. Rice, the most widely consumed staple in the world, is
the crop that will suffer most.
Removing the remaining obstacles to the exports of Russian
fertilisers is an essential step towards global food security.
But among all these serious challenges, there is some good news.
Our eight-billion-strong world could yield enormous opportunities

for some of the poorest countries, where population growth is
highest.
Relatively small investments in healthcare, education, gender

equality and sustainable economic development could create a
virtuous circle of development and growth, transforming
economies and lives.
Within a few decades, today's poorest countries could become

engines of sustainable, green growth and prosperity across entire
regions.
I never bet against human ingenuity, and I have enormous faith in

human solidarity. In these difficult times, we would do well to
remember the words of one of humanity's wisest observers,
Mahatma Gandhi: "The world has enough for everyone's need – but
not everyone's greed."
This month's big global meetups must be an opportunity to start

bridging divides and restoring trust, based on the equal rights and
freedoms of every single member of humanity's eight-billion-
strong family.
Antonio Guterres is the secretary-general of the United Nations.
Related topic
World population 8 billion / global inequality / climate change and global
warming / 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) / global instability

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Views Journalism Without Fear or Favour

WEDNESDAY, November 16, 2022

Demonstrators participate in a protest during COP26, in London. Photo: Henry

T he world's population will reach the 8 billion mark today – a

Billions of people are struggling; hundreds of millions are facing

World population at 8 billion: Key messages for

The facts speak for themselves. A handful of billionaires control as

On top of these long-term trends, the accelerating climate crisis

The war in Ukraine is adding to ongoing food, energy and finance

Many countries in the Global South face huge debts, increasing

Anger and resentment against developed countries are reaching

I hope COP27 will see a historic Climate Solidarity Pact under

I also urge leaders at COP27 to agree on a roadmap and

The G20 summit in Bali will be an opportunity to address the

As we push for action on these medium-term measures, we are

The Black Sea Grain Initiative is an essential part of those efforts. It

We are also working to ensure Russian fertilisers can flow into

Our eight-billion-strong world could yield enormous opportunities

Relatively small investments in healthcare, education, gender

Within a few decades, today's poorest countries could become

I never bet against human ingenuity, and I have enormous faith in

This month's big global meetups must be an opportunity to start

Antonio Guterres is the secretary-general of the United Nations.

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