Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Deputy Spokesperson of the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq.
Highligths:
-Secretary-General/Doha
-Deputy Secretary-General/Doha
-Secretary-General/Trip Announcement
-Emissions Gap Report
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Sudan
-Hurricane Melissa
-Madagascar
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SECRETARY-GENERAL/DOHA
The Secretary-General spoke to the opening session of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar today, and he warned that today, we are at a moment of high global uncertainty with crises on going in terms of poverty, inequality, and climate.
He saluted the adopted Doha Political Declaration as a “booster shot for development,” describing it as a people-centered plan requiring urgent action in four areas: accelerating poverty and inequality reduction, job creation, increased financing for developing countries, and greater social inclusion. The Declaration, Mr. Guterres said, calls for targeted investments, climate finance, and inclusive governance.
The Secretary-General urged governments and partners to mobilize the political will and resources to realize the Declaration’s ambitious vision for sustainable development. This Summit, he said in closing, is all about hope – hope through collective action that is so desperately needed to continue the journey that we began together thirty years ago in Copenhagen.
He spoke to the press in Doha about the Political Declaration, and he also discussed the horrifying crisis in Sudan, which he said is spiralling out of control, and about the continued violations of the ceasefire in Gaza.
On Sudan, he said that, for over 18 months, El Fasher and the surrounding areas in North Darfur have been an epicentre of suffering, hunger, violence and displacement. And since the Rapid Support Forces entered El Fasher last weekend, the situation is growing worse by the day.
He once again called for an immediate end to this unimaginable violence; for the safe, rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to all civilians in need; for an end to the flow of weapons and fighters into Sudan; and for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Regarding Gaza, the Secretary-General said that all parties must abide by the decisions of the first phase of the peace agreement. And he stressed the need to establish a credible political path towards ending the occupation, realizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and leading to a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/DOHA
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, arrives in Doha, Qatar, today to attend the Second World Summit for Social Development. The Deputy Secretary-General will meet with senior government officials from Qatar and other delegations, as well as civil society representatives, youth, and other stakeholders, to discuss how to translate commitments made at the Summit into tangible progress on the ground.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
The Secretary-General will depart Qatar on Wednesday to head to Brazil, where he will attend the Belém Climate Summit, which will be held ahead of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference, taking place in Belém from November 10 to 21.
The Secretary-General will speak at the opening of the General Plenary of Leaders on Thursday, where he is expected to stress that in this critical moment for our planet and the billions of lives and livelihoods it sustains, every leader must confront some stark truths.
Noting that newly submitted Nationally Determined Contributions represent progress, the Secretary-General will say that policies and plans governments have put on the table still fall far short of a credible pathway to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as agreed by all Member States in the Paris Agreement. The truth, the Secretary-General will warn, is that the climate crisis is accelerating.
The Secretary-General will also highlight that another truth is that we have never been better equipped to fight back, emphasizing that this COP must ignite a decade of acceleration and delivery. While in Belém, the Secretary-General will also meet with leaders attending the conference. The Secretary-General is expected back in New York on 9 November.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-11-04