UN Secretary General

UN chief assures strong support to the Pacific's response to climate change

Speaking to Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in Suva, Fiji Guterres acknowledged the Pacific island communities active response to the current hardships and future dangers posed by climate change.

Guterres in Fiji for three-day visit

Mr Guterres will receive a traditional welcome Wednesday morning in Suva before meeting the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum Baron Waqa and Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor.

The UN chief will meet Fiji's president and hold bilateral talks with the Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama on Thursday before addressing parliament.

Mr Guterres has been invited to lay a wreath at the national war memorial in Veiuto and sail around Suva harbour on a traditional sailing canoe.

He leaves on Saturday for Tuvalu and ends his Pacific island tour in Vanuatu.

 

UN head to mobilise world around Pacific climate needs

Antonio Guterres attended a community roundtable event in Auckland Monday, as he kicked off his Pacific tour.

He departs for Fiji on Tuesday before heading to Tuvalu and Vanuatu to complete his regional tour.

Mr Guterres said the Pacific islands were the first victims of climate change.

"Not only some of them because of the rising level of water represents an existential threat, some might disappear, but also because of course climate change brings with it a lot of negative consequences," he said.

Portugal's Antonio Guterres set to be UN secretary general

Mr Guterres, 67, was the "clear favourite", Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin announced on Wednesday.

A formal vote will take place in the UN Security Council on Thursday to confirm the choice of nominee.

Mr Guterres, who led the UN refugee agency for 10 years, will take over from Ban Ki-moon early next year.


Who is he?

Today is International Day of Peace

The symbolism of a day without fighting is a crucial reminder that conflict can and must come to an end, the UN says in a statement.

“But the UN thinks that peace is about much more than putting weapons aside. It is about building a society in which people live free from poverty and share the benefits of prosperity.”

The theme of this year’s Peace Day highlights the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which 193 Member States of the UN unanimously adopted last year as building blocks for peace.