Voices of Change: Modern Perspectives From UN Leaders
WHO:
ABC News - Mia Amor Mottley, president of Barbados
ABC News - Janez Jansa, prime minister of Slovenia
ABC News - András Baka, president of Hungary
ABC News - Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland
WHAT:
ABC News - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated, “The world cannot allow countries and cultures to vanish beneath the waves,” emphasizing the urgency of climate action.
ABC News - African leaders at the United Nations General Assembly are demanding reform of the Security Council to include permanent seats for African countries.
ABC News - Mottley stated, “The time for simply setting out goals is behind us,” regarding climate change.
ABC News - Jansa remarked, “A United Nations that delivers for all cannot mean an organization that responds loudly to some crises and quietly to others.”
ABC News - Baka said, “Power earns trust only when it respects law.”
ABC News - Martin expressed, “Narrow self-interest is breaking the bonds of solidarity.”
WHERE:
Bloomberg - The meeting took place in New York.
WHEN:
Bloomberg - The event is part of the 2026 General Debate at the UN General Assembly.
WHY:
Bloomberg - The articles discuss the significance of the UN in relation to global security and the future of multilateralism.
HOW:
Bloomberg - The UN is described as having evolved over eight decades since its founding as a guarantor of world peace.
(UPDATED September 25, 2026 09:01 UTC)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stressed the urgent need for climate action, stating, “The world cannot allow countries and cultures to vanish beneath the waves.” Meanwhile, African leaders at the United Nations General Assembly are calling for reforms to the Security Council, advocating for permanent seats for African nations. These discussions highlight the pressing issues facing the global community today.
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(UPDATED September 25, 2026 07:59 UTC)
In a significant gathering at the UN General Assembly in New York, leaders including Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados, Janez Jansa of Slovenia, András Baka of Hungary, and Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland, addressed pressing global issues. Mottley emphasized that “the time for simply setting out goals is behind us” regarding climate change, while Jansa pointed out the need for a United Nations that responds equitably to all crises. Baka highlighted the importance of law in earning trust, and Martin warned that “narrow self-interest is breaking the bonds of solidarity,” underscoring the UN's evolving role in global security and multilateralism.