In his final speech to the UN General Assembly, US President Joe Biden made a much-needed appeal for global unification. Speaking to leaders at the UN headquarters in New York, Mr. Biden emphasized that the structure of global peace, security, and prosperity will be decided by them alone. It was “an inflection point in world history” that he was speaking at.
Addressing the forum on pressing global concerns, he mentioned climate disaster, the crisis of economic inequality, technological challenges, and the threat of authoritarianism as the conflicts that the world is now at the crossroads of division and conflict or cooperation.
“We stand at a tipping point, where the decisions we make today will echo for generations to come,” Biden said. “The future of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law hangs in the balance. It’s up to all of us, together, to ensure that we leave a better world for our children and grandchildren.”
He reminded everyone that this urgent issue was to be addressed, yet the most present danger it constitutes is “the existential threat of our time.” It is, he added, where nations can meet their commitments toward reducing the emission of green gases and shift to renewable energy sources. He warned that failure may lead to catastrophes.
He also stressed the role of economic cooperation, as inequality among nations continues to widen. Therefore, he acknowledged a need for stronger international partnerships so that the benefits of economic growth may be more equitably distributed and shared by no nation.
Among other topics, it was the economy and the environment, but he also aimed at rising authoritarianism and called on this stance to uphold democratic values from all over the world. “The march of autocracy cannot and will not go unanswered,” he said, launching an appeal for renewed commitment to human rights and the rule of law.
Concluding his address, Biden stated, “We have the tools, we have the will, and we must have the courage to work together. Now is the time to come together for the future of humanity.”
The unity message delivered by Biden in his last year as U.S. president reminds us of a call to action for a world facing unprecedented challenges.
