At the United Nations, Sánchez reiterates the defence of multilateralism, the rules-based international order and the 2030 Agenda

UN Headquarters, New York (United States)

Pedro Sánchez paid tribute to Emma Igual, the Spanish aid worker who lost her life on 10 September in Bajmut, Ukraine, when the vehicle she was in was hit by artillery fire. The president highlighted the solidarity of the aid worker, recalling that her sole aim was to provide medical assistance, evacuate the wounded and, in short, to help those most in need. "Her example should lead us to a calm but urgent reflection on the need to take a stand in the face of injustice, not to remain silent in the face of the violation of human rights and the most basic rules of peaceful coexistence between nations," he stressed.

The acting President of the Government of Spain stressed that the challenges facing the world today compel leaders to take action. "Time is running out," he said, referring first and foremost to the climate emergency.

Pedro Sánchez stressed that science today allows us to be certain about the temperature increases the world will face in the coming years. "Peak global emissions can on no account go beyond 2025," he stressed, emphasising that the only alternative is to accelerate the roll out of renewable energy in a fair and equitable manner, to triple its generation capacity by the end of this decade. "Fighting the climate emergency requires courage and determination," he said. For this reason, President Sánchez stressed the need to promote an unparalleled technological and economic revolution, which will only be possible if it is carried out with massive, decisive and global social support. "This support requires intelligence to overcome the main ally of climate inaction: denialism", explained Pedro Sánchez, stressing the need to turn this challenge into an opportunity to create more and better jobs, to make all sectors sustainable and to do so hand in hand with science.

The acting President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, speaks before the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

With regard to the fight against the climate emergency, President Sánchez said that Spain has made great progress, adopting the most ambitious objectives in terms of renewable energies and energy efficiency through the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan. "We will contribute 225 million euros to the Green Climate Fund, 20 million euros to the Adaptation Fund and more than 17 million euros in instruments that strengthen climate justice," he said. "Today, on behalf of Spain, I have signed the Treaty on Biodiversity in the High Seas," he announced, stressing that this is just one more step in defending the natural balance, in line with agreements such as the Kunming-Montreal agreement.

Pedro Sánchez then referred to the current crossroads in the defence of democracy, fundamental rights, equality and social justice, highlighting the profound crisis of disaffection and distrust towards institutions that the world is currently experiencing and regretted that these movements are also based on the rejection of equality and feminism. Referring to Spain, President Sánchez emphasised the "courageous and determined stance of civil society", highlighting the defence of equality between men and women that Spanish sport has recently experienced. "There is no better antidote to reactionary extremism than feminism", he said, and reiterated that the current century is undoubtedly "the century of women".

The acting President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his speech before the 78th United Nations General Assembly | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Pedro Sánchez also referred to the growing threat against democracies around the world, recalling what has happened in Washington D.C. and Brasilia and, more recently, Niger and Gabon. In this respect, the president of the Government of Spain reiterated Spain's support for the mediation efforts of the Economic Community of West African States, regretting that the Sahel region continues to accumulate years of deterioration.

The acting president stressed that the defence of democracy also entails working to enable all citizens to fully enjoy their fundamental rights. He recalled that the Government of Spain works closely with its Latin American partners to promote alliances and share experiences. In this context, he referred to Colombia's transitional justice work towards total peace, which he called "a commendable achievement". He also welcomed the constituent process in Chile, "an example of a courageous commitment to institutional renewal". On the other hand, he reiterated Spain's commitment to a return to democracy in Venezuela.

Thirdly, Sánchez referred to the defence of multilateralism and a rules-based international order, and reiterated that the priority today is to demonstrate that "the system works for everyone". He emphasised the 2030 Agenda, and the need to stand up to those who today try to manipulate this collective effort. Pedro Sánchez has lamented the road that remains to be travelled to achieve the 17 goals, as a result of crises such as the one caused by the pandemic. "If we continue on this path, 575 million people will still be in extreme poverty by 2030 and 84 million children will be out of school," he said, recalling that at this rate it would take 300 years to close the gender gap. He also asserted that this reality would be a trump card for the enemies of multilateralism.

Pedro Sánchez reiterated the need to maintain commitments in terms of official development aid, and to provide adequate resources and instruments to make progress on sustainable development between now and 2030. "Spain is committed to strengthening existing mechanisms, ensuring that countries have access to the necessary funding, regardless of their income level," he said, and recalled that Spain defended the creation of a Resilience and Sustainability Fund, which finally came into operation last year. "We were also the first country to make the commitment to channel 20% of the special drawing rights allocated in 2021 effective so that countries with difficulties in accessing credit could benefit from this type of tool managed by the IMF", the acting president recalled.

The acting President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, speaks before the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

He also recalled that coexistence, the maintenance of peace and the defence of international security is a commitment that binds the present generation to those to come. In this regard, in reference to the conflicts that continue to rage in the world today, he reiterated the Government of Spain's firm support for the work of the envoys of the Secretary General for the Peace Process in the Middle East, Syria and Libya.

As Spain holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union until the end of December, Pedro Sánchez shared his thoughts on the future of Europe. "The European Union was born as a bid for peace in a continent devastated and traumatised by two world wars in barely three decades", he said. "From the ashes of destruction arose a firm will: no more war," he added.

The acting president underlined the EU's determination to forge shared prosperity, and emphasised the firm and united response to the atrocities that Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to inflict today. "We will not accept that anyone should violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Once again, I condemn Russia's unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine", he stressed, reiterating that Europe will continue to work actively for a just and lasting peace. "I believe in a Europe at the forefront of defending global public goods, democracy, labour and social protection and economic openness," he stressed. "A Europe at the forefront of the fight against inequality, and at the forefront of defending individual rights and civil liberties". To continue moving towards the European ideal, President Sánchez stressed the importance of committing to the climate agenda and promoting a benchmark migration policy in the face of a global phenomenon of great importance. He also stressed the need to globally promote a more humane digital transformation that puts people at the centre and guarantees their rights. "I agree with the Secretary-General: it is imperative to develop multilateral governance to deal with issues related to Artificial Intelligence," he stressed.

Finally, the acting president stressed the importance of a Europe capable of strengthening its alliances with its transatlantic partners, such as the US and Canada, without forgetting Asia and Africa. In this context, he emphasised Spain's efforts to revitalise relations between the EU and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, reiterating his confidence in the EU-CELAC Summit as a real turning point to this end.

Non official translation