Addressing the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Secretary-General António Guterres briefed Member States on his priorities for 2026. As Member States build on the Pact for the Future and the UN80 Initiative, he outlined three guiding principles for the year – and beyond: adherence to the UN Charter; “peace with justice” between nations and with nature; and unity in an age of division.

The Secretary-General said geopolitical divides, violations of international law, and cuts in development and humanitarian aid all contribute to the context of “chaos,” “shaking the foundations of global cooperation and testing the resilience of multilateralism itself.” But “[d]isruptions don’t have to be destructive,” he added; “[t]hey can also be a force of construction.” He called attention to the UN80 Initiative to build a UN system “that delivers more effectively, more coherently, and with greater impact, amid… shrinking resources and rising needs.”

Noting that “1945 problem-solving will not solve 2026 problems,” Guterres underscored that reform of international financial and trade institutions and of the Security Council is essential. He identified three foundational principles to inform actions in 2026 – and more generally – by highlighting the need to:

• Adhere to the UN Charter, which, he said, isbeing threatened by the erosion of international law, corruption of institutions, and inequality, among other factors;
• Pursue peace with justice between nations and with nature; and
• Build unity amid division and distrust, amplified by demographic trends, where “migrants and refugees also have rights.”

Noting that sustainable peace requires sustainable development, the Secretary-General urged Member States to advance the Seville Commitment (the outcome of the 2025 Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4)) by scaling up finance, addressing the debt crisis, and reforming the international financial architecture.

Highlighting climate change as a threat multiplier, Guterres called on governments to: deliver beyond national climate plans to keep the now inevitable 1.5°C overshoot as small, short, and safe as possible; accelerate a just transition away from fossil fuels; double energy efficiency by 2030; and ensure affordable and predictable finance for adaptation and loss and damage.

The Secretary-General thanked Member States for their support for the soon-to-be-formally-launched Independent Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and for the Global Dialogue on AI Governance that will both contribute to building guardrails, accountability, and shared standards and to bridging the AI divide.

Guterres signaled that in the next few weeks:

• The High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP will put forward its recommendations on new ways to “measure progress and well-being and better reflect what truly matters for people and planet”;
• A series of monthly meetings on the UN80 Initiative will kick off to foster dialogue and cooperation; 
• Initial assessments will be presented on the potential mergers of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) with the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as well as UN-Women with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) to enhance efficiency and coherence; and
• Review of peace operations will advance, “to make them more effective, responsive, and fit for today’s complex challenges.”

The briefing took place on 15 January 2026. [UN Secretary-General’s Briefing to UNGA Meeting on the Priorities of the Organization for 2026] [Meetings Coverage: 15 January 2026] [UN News Story]