Is UN delivering on its objectives?

In the era of major realignments, geo-strategic and geo-economic flux, growing Sino-U.S. competition, rising tensions in the South China Sea, China-India standoff in the Himalayas, Pakistan-India rift, unresolved Kashmir issue for seven decades, Ukraine war, food insecurity, and climate change repercussions now manifesting themselves particularly in Pakistan, continuing problems in Afghanistan, and the prospects of world economy showing recession signs among others are the kind of issues that the United Nations (UN) was created to prevent, manage and resolve in order to maintain peace and security in the world.

Has the UN succeeded in delivering on any of the lofty ideals it was supposed to? Is the UN still effective and relevant or has it become a hand maiden of few developed and militarily strong powers? Has the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) been reduced to nothing more than an annual circus for each state to repeat their own scripted narrative, meet their allies and partners, enjoy the ambiance of the world’s best chaikhana with the challenges and difficult issues unresolved and leave with the main problems simmering till the next act of the circus? These are questions on everyone’s mind, despite repeated assertions of their faith in multilateralism, and need to be addressed if the UN is to survive and deliver on the objectives it was create for.

Pakistan has strong faith in multilateralism and has always played a proactive and effective role at the UN contributing to all aspects and areas of the organisation, including the UN Peacekeeping Missions where Pakistan has one of the largest contingents and is recognised and appreciated by the international community. Pakistan’s state leaders have regularly taken out time to not only participate in the UNGA, but in all high-level conferences and events. Despite its shortcomings and limitations, it provides states the opportunity to promote and project their point of view to the entire world directly at the world’s highest political and security forum.

For Pakistan, UNGA 77 was of great significance particularly due to the devastation caused by the worst floods in living memory caused by climate change. Pakistan was very effectively represented by a high-level delegation headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In his statement at the UNGA, he described first-hand the scale and magnitude of the climate catastrophe that has pushed one-third of the country under water by the biblical flood that destroyed everything in its path, broke centuries of weather records and challenged everything we learnt about disaster and its management while stretching the capacity of the government, concerned departments, NGOs and the citizens to its limits.

Around 33 million people, including women and children, were displaced and forced to spend their time under open skies totally at the mercy of unforgiving elements. Facing hunger and starvation, they are now at high risk of health hazards. Thousands continue to look for dry land with heart-breaking losses to their families, futures and their livelihoods. Over 200 bridges were destroyed and hundreds of miles of roads completely washed away. The scenario calls for international support to rebuild and rehabilitate not only the people, but also the agricultural land that has been devastated, making it unsuitable for future crops.

It was encouraging to see Pakistan make a passionate case for climate change compensation as the current calamity had not been triggered by anything Pakistan had done. The PM explained that, “our glaciers are melting fast, our forests are burning and our heat waves have crossed 53°C, making us the hottest place on the planet.” He warned that “what happened in Pakistan will not stay in Pakistan”. Hotspots like Pakistan fall in the list of ten most climate-vulnerable countries, yet emit less than one percent of the greenhouse gases that are burning the planet. Pakistan has mobilised all available resources towards national relief efforts and repurposed all budget priorities to the rescue of millions displaced. The dual costs of global inaction and climate injustice are crippling both its treasury and its people. He made a very poignant remark when he said that unless the world leaders act fast, “there will no earth to fight wars over”.

The UN Secretary General António Guterres’s emphasis on the impact of climate change on vulnerable countries, with Pakistan as the case in point, and what to do about it helped not only to enhance focus on climate change, but also on the plight of Pakistan as the result of the catastrophic floods. Lashing out at the West’s fossil fuels industry for making windfall profits, he called these profits to be taxed and funds to be directed to afflicted countries to address losses caused by the climate crisis. He pointed out that the G20 emits 80 percent of all carbon emissions. On the other hand, Pakistan’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is under 1 percent, but it is the world’s seventh most vulnerable country to climate change and is reeling today from its ravages. That is why Pakistan is leading a ‘developing country effort’ to attract global fund to help states afflicted by climate-induced disasters.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, stressed the need for collective and urgent action to build back better, in a climate resilient manner. He proposed a number of actions for addressing the issue of climate change at the global level including in the context of the forthcoming 27^th United Nations Climate Change Conference (CoP-27). He called for a “Green Marshal Plan” to assist and support the most climate-vulnerable countries, stressing that it was crucial to mobilise $1 trillion annually as investment in sustainable infrastructure; fulfilment of the pledge by the industrial countries to provide $100 billion plus annually in climate finance; aligning international trade system to contribute to achievement of the SDGs; induction of a fair international tax regime; preferential access for developing countries to relevant advanced technologies and end discriminatory restrictions; bridging the digital divide and enabling the developing countries to ‘leap frog’ into the global digital economy of the future.

UNGA 77 also provided an opportunity to highlight our other main concerns and urgent priorities like rapid economic growth to lift millions out of destitution and hunger, need for a stable external environment, sustainable peace and stability in South Asia contingent upon which is a just and lasting solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The Prime Minister informed the world that India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, to change the internationally recognised ‘disputed’ status of Jammu and Kashmir and to alter the demographic structure of the occupied territory, had further undermined the prospects of peace and inflamed regional tensions. He detailed India’s other actions and urged India to take credible steps to create an enabling environment for constructive engagement. He also said Pakistan has led humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, and he urged the international community to respond to the Secretary-General’s appeal for $4.2 billion in humanitarian and economic assistance and release Afghanistan’s financial reserves.

Pakistan drew the world attention to the officially sponsored campaign of oppression against India’s over 200 million Muslims which was the worst manifestation of Islamophobia. Mr Sharif voiced hope that the Assembly’s adoption earlier this year of the landmark resolution designating March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia will lead to concrete measures in promoting interfaith harmony. He expressed concern about the numerous conflicts across the Middle East, including Syria and Yemen, and he called on Israel to put an immediate end to the blatant use of force against the Palestinian people. Regarding Security Council reform, he urged the addition of 11 new non-permanent members to make it more representative of the international community.

On the international front, it was a breath of fresh air to see President Biden stating that, “We do not seek conflict. We do not seek a Cold War. We do not ask any nation to choose between the United States and any other partner.” He also reaffirmed his country’s commitment to ‘One-China policy’ and promised the US would “conduct itself as a reasonable leader” in “managing shifting geopolitical trends.” This would certainly calm the nerves of the world, fearing the worst case scenario in the face of heightened confrontation and harsh rhetoric emanating from both China and the US, particularly on the issue of Taiwan and Xinjiang. Although this measured statement has not been echoed in recent US pronouncements which include the announcement of a billion-dollar arms package for Taiwan and fresh curbs on the US exports of chip technology to Chinese companies, forcefully condemned by China. Earlier, the US had reiterated that it would defend Taiwan ‘militarily’ if it was attacked. This too provoked a furious response from Beijing.

On the ongoing war in Ukraine, the world continued to remain divided with clear fissures appearing in the EU with some members openly questioning the anti-Russian policies of the US and entanglement and negative effects of conflict in Europe. The EU’s appetite and capacity to deal with the fallout of the mainly US driven conflict in North Africa, Middle East and Afghanistan over the past two decades is now obviously dwindling. The imminent food security issues and energy crisis, due to the US sanctions in Russia are undoubtedly hurting EU interests.

The current UNGA was unable to make any forward movement on Afghanistan on either the humanitarian crises brewing in that war ravaged country or towards political engagement with the Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan.

Any final judgment of the effectiveness of UNGA 77 is still hard to make. Things will only become clear once we see the relevant countries enacting the policies and making their way to peace and development. For now, expecting any celebratory fireworks would be a bit too much.

The writer is a former Ambassador to China, the EU and Ireland. She covers a variety of issues including political, social, environmental, developmental, strategic and economics