By Mariam Dzadzamia
The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened on
September 10 in New York City, and I had the honor of attending it firsthand. The big highlight? The general debates. Despite being called “debates,” no actual back-and-forth discussions happen. Instead, each country part of the UN, from North Korea to the United States, as well as non-member observers like Palestine and Vatican City, delivers their remarks, all while the world grapples with several concurrent crises.
Here are three highlights from this year’s UNGA week:
The Israel-Hamas War
This UNGA marks the largest gathering of world leaders since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 last year and Israel’s ongoing retaliation in Gaza. In the 11 months since the time the assembly gathered, regional tensions had surged. The Houthis in Yemen have tried to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea, while Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have exchanged more frequent attacks. Israel’s actions have sparked outrage, especially from Iran, and the situation has drawn global attention, with UN member nations questioning Israel’s conduct.
Earlier this year, South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, though the International Court of Justice stopped short of agreeing. The court did, however, order Israel to protect Palestinians from “irreparable harm.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has been consistently pushing for a ceasefire, highlighting the humanitarian crisis and the need to free hostages. As the war has already passed its first anniversary, questions of Israeli security, Palestinian peace and the path forward are still at the forefront of discussions.
Climate Change
The threat of climate change is always a major topic at the UNGA, particularly for nations already facing its severe impacts. Pacific island nations, in particular, are confronting the dangers of rising seas, which threaten their very existence. As one island nation leader said, “If we save the Pacific, we also save ourselves.”
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference last year, there was a global agreement to phase out fossil fuels and triple renewable energy by 2030, but opinions remain divided. Some see this as progress, while others argue it’s far from enough. The tension between smaller nations that are more vulnerable to climate change and larger, higher-polluting countries like the United States is likely to play out again this year.
Global Debt
Another critical issue that could shape progress on climate change, education and more is the global debt crisis. Public debt held by governments is now almost equal to the world’s total GDP. Developing countries, while holding less debt as a percentage of GDP compared to developed countries, are paying more in interest and are seeing their debt grow rapidly. In Africa, for example, 900 million people live in countries where more is spent on debt interest than on essential services like education and healthcare. The rising debt burden is fueling public unrest, as seen in Kenya earlier this year when tax hikes meant to reduce borrowing sparked protests that left over 50 people dead. This year’s UNGA explored ways to address this growing challenge.
The 2024 session also brought attention to significant moments, such as the walkout during Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s speech in protest, and the anticipation surrounding the U.S. President Joe Biden’s address, where he reaffirmed U.S. support for Ukraine.
With world leaders like Charles Michel of the European Union and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau taking the stage, the UNGA remains a critical platform for addressing global challenges. The decisions that were made will influence the future of international relations, and the discussions on these pressing issues are ones to follow closely.
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