Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath held discussions with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81).

During what was described as a cordial and constructive exchange, Minister Herath briefed the UN Secretary-General on Sri Lanka’s progress in economic recovery and reforms, as well as the country’s reconciliation efforts.

The two sides also exchanged views on reforms to the international financial architecture aimed at supporting developing countries and discussed Sri Lanka’s contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Meanwhile, Minister Herath also participated in the High-Level Plenary Meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons during UNGA81.

Addressing the meeting, the Minister reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to nuclear disarmament and called for concrete and time-bound steps towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

He also stressed the need to redirect resources towards development, health, education and climate action.

In another engagement on the sidelines of UNGA81, Minister Herath met UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare.

During the meeting, the Minister thanked the UN for providing operational support to Sri Lankan peacekeepers serving in UN peacekeeping operations and UN Security Council-mandated missions.

He also reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s longstanding commitment to UN peacekeeping. (Newswire)

The post FM Vijitha Herath meets UN Chief António Guterres on sidelines of UNGA81 appeared first on Newswire.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action to address what he described as two interconnected global crises: climate change and energy insecurity. 

Speaking at London Climate Action Week, the UN Chief warned that continued dependence on fossil fuels is driving both rising temperatures and growing energy vulnerabilities, while underscoring that renewable energy offers a pathway to greater energy security, affordability and resilience. 

“The verdict is in: energy independence cannot be built on fossil fuel dependence,” the Secretary-General said, highlighting that renewable energy is now the cheapest source of new electricity in most parts of the world and a cornerstone of long-term energy security. 

Warning that climate impacts are already disrupting lives, livelihoods and economies around the world, the Secretary-General stressed that accelerating the transition to clean energy is essential to building a more secure, resilient and sustainable future. This message is particularly relevant for Sri Lanka, which is already experiencing the effects of climate change through more frequent floods, droughts and extreme weather events. 

The Secretary-General also announced a global Call to Action on Methane, focused on accelerating emissions reductions across the fossil fuel, agriculture and waste sectors. Methane is responsible for around one-third of global warming, making it one of the fastest opportunities to slow climate change while delivering benefits for public health, food security and sustainable development. 

He also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence, noting that while AI can help advance climate solutions, the systems that power it consume significant amounts of energy, water and land. The Secretary-General proposed an AI Environmental Transparency Initiative, calling on major AI companies to disclose the environmental footprint of their systems and transition data centres to renewable energy by 2030. 

Responding to the rising threat of climate change, Sri Lanka has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20.09 per cent by 2035 through its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0). The country also aims to generate 70 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, expand forest cover and reduce emissions from the waste sector through improved recycling and waste management. The transition also presents significant opportunities for Sri Lanka. 

Commenting on the Secretary-General’s address, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche noted how recent global events have highlighted how vulnerable countries can be to disruptions in international energy markets: “Accelerating the shift to renewable energy is not only a climate imperative; it is also an investment in Sri Lanka’s energy security, economic resilience and long-term fiscal stability. With the right investments and partnerships, the transition can create jobs, strengthen communities, while mitigating the impacts of climate change”. (UN Sri Lanka)

The post UN chief warns of twin climate and energy crises, calls for faster clean energy shift appeared first on Newswire.

In a note to correspondents issued by his spokesperson on Tuesday, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres called for military restraint from India and Pakistan.

“The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” the note said.

On Monday, the Secretary-General had warned that the tensions between the two South Asian neighbours had reached “their highest in years.”

He offered his good offices to both governments to help defuse tensions and promote diplomacy, stressing that “a military solution is no solution.”

Speaking to the media on Monday, Guterres condemned the 22 April terror attack in the Pahalgam area of Jammu and Kashmir, which left at least 26 civilians dead and many more injured.

“Targeting civilians is unacceptable – and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means,” he said. (UN)

The post UN Secretary-General urges military restraint from India, Pakistan appeared first on Newswire.