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‘Dangerous nostalgia’ is a threat to multilateralism, UN deputy chief tells Danish MPs

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The UN’s founding document “is our moral compass,” she said, calling for renewed commitment to multilateralism rooted in solidarity, international law, and human dignity. 

She stressed the need to invest in peace – which the Security Council and General Assembly have both affirmed through resolutions on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in support of the two-State solution between Israelis and Palestinians. 

These are examples of how the Charter’s values “have been brought to life”, however “the very foundation those resolutions rest on is being attacked.”  

Yesterday, Venezuela – tomorrow Greenland? 

Ms. Mohammed said that “dangerous nostalgia is what’s threatening international cooperation now, that the rule of law can be interpreted by the whims and caprices of a strong arm.” 

She noted that Secretary-General António Guterres recently reminded that the Charter is not an à la carte menu and all countries have an obligation to uphold it. 

Today, it is smaller countries who are “holding the line on the Charter” because they understand that “if the rules don’t protect the vulnerable, they offer protection to no one,” she said. 

“You either stand up for a rules-based order, or you pay the price of ignoring it. Yesterday, the price was Venezuela, tomorrow it may be Greenland,” she warned. 

Fund sustainable development 

The international community must also work to accelerate sustainable development. 

Geopolitical tensions are threatening gains made in slashing poverty, reducing child and maternal mortality, and increasing girls’ access to education, she said. 

Furthermore, “trade wars are closing off markets that have lifted millions out of poverty. And we’re watching a global rollback of the hard-won rights of women and girls.” 

Last year, military spending reached a record high of $2.7 trillion, yet funding for basic development needs faces a $4.2 trillion annual shortfall, which must change. 

Davos echo chamber 

“Davos this week will see the rich getting richer – profits going into the hands of very few. Last year, the wealth of billionaires grew by $2 trillion dollars while the poorest half of humanity owns just two percent of global wealth,” she added. 

Ms. Mohammed pointed to the UN conference on financing for development, held last year in Spain, which “showed us how to create fiscal space for sustainable development, address the debt crisis, and reform the international financial architecture that keep so many outside.” 

Support UN reform 

The Deputy Secretary-General underscored the need to “reset the UN to preserve multilateralism”. 

In this regard, the UN80 Initiative on system-wide reform aims to build a global body “that delivers more effectively, with greater impact, amid the reality of fewer resources and greater needs on the ground in countries.”  

She asked all countries, including Denmark, to “lead the charge and commit to a reformed UN that delivers on the promise of the Charter and the realities of today.” 

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Teachers are the ‘guardians of our future’, says UN deputy chief

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Their work, said UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, is “the beating heart of education, the cornerstone of sustainable development, and the guardians of our future.”

Speaking Thursday at the opening of the UNESCO World Summit on Teachers in Santiago, Chile, Ms. Mohammed called for urgent global action to address the deepening teacher crisis.

“Let us honour their influence with the policies and the respect that teachers need, and future generations deserve,” she urged, laying out a five-point plan to support educators and strengthen education systems worldwide.

A crisis with global consequences

The deputy UN chief warned that the world is facing a “deepening teacher crisis” that threatens progress across the Sustainable Development Goals.

“We are failing our teachers,” she said, pointing to a global shortfall of 44 million educators needed to meet universal education targets by 2030.

She described the crisis as “a slow-burning emergency” that is undermining learning outcomes, widening inequalities, and weakening the social fabric of communities. “We must respond to those truths,” she said.

No single actor can fix this alone

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay also addressed the Summit, emphasizing the complexity of the challenge. “No single actor will be able to bridge the gaps we see, and that is what brings us together here in Santiago,” she said.

Ms. Azoulay highlighted the multiple causes behind the crisis: low and often delayed salaries, an aging teacher workforce, surging school enrolments without matching resources, and persistent gender inequalities – especially in STEM fields. Tackling these issues, she said, requires “level heads and clear thinking.”

The numbers are stark

To meet global education goals by 2030, the world must recruit 44 million teachers – more than double the population of Chile. Yet, instead of progress, gains are being reversed.

“Too many young teachers are leaving within their first years,” Ms. Mohammed said, citing low pay, heavy workloads, and lack of professional development. “Ultimately, we are asking the impossible of teachers: to build the future without the tools, trust and conditions they need.”

Financing the future

The cost of recruiting the teachers needed by 2030 is estimated at $120 billion annually. But education financing is falling short.

“More than 40 per cent of the world’s population lives in countries where governments spend more on debt interest payments than on education or health,” she warned.

Aid to education is projected to drop by 25 per cent between 2023 and 2027, with a 12 per cent fall already recorded last year.

Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed delivers remarks to the World Summit on Teachers in Santiago, Chile.

Five areas for urgent action

Ms. Mohammed laid out a five-point plan to tackle the global teacher crisis:

  1. Elevate the profession: Implement the High-Level Panel’s recommendations — fair pay, stable contracts, safe workplaces, manageable class sizes, investment in upskilling, and clear career pathways.
  2. Finance education: Make education a top budget priority. Expand domestic funding, pursue debt relief, and consider a Global Fund for Teachers in Emergencies.
  3. Advance gender equality: Recognize and elevate women’s leadership in a profession dominated by women but often lacking female decision-makers.
  4. Support digital transformation: Train teachers to lead inclusive digital learning, especially as AI reshapes the job market. Equip classrooms and prioritize human agency.
  5. Protect teachers in crisis zones: From Gaza to Sudan and Ukraine, educators are risking their lives. “We owe them more than admiration – we owe them protection, resources, and unwavering support.”

From Summit to action

Ms. Mohammed urged leaders to turn the summit’s outcomes into concrete commitments ahead of the World Social Summit in Doha this November.

She proposed:

  • National teacher compacts with time-bound targets on recruitment, retention, and pay.
  • A financing track that links aid and debt swaps to teacher investments.
  • A teacher-led digital pact to set standards for AI and ed-tech, with funded training.

“Quality education is the foundation of everything we hope to achieve with the Sustainable Development Goals,” she concluded. “Without teachers, none of it is possible.”

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Deputy UN chief urges bold action to transform food systems at global summit in Addis Ababa

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Delivering closing remarks at the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, co-hosted by Ethiopia and Italy, Ms. Mohammed praised the growing momentum behind food systems transformation.

But she also warned that with just five years left to 2030, “hunger and malnutrition persist. Climate shocks, conflict, debt, and inequality are widening the cracks in our systems.”

“Too often food systems are seen as part of our challenges,” she said. “When in fact, they can be one of the greatest solutions to deliver for people, planet, peace and prosperity.”

A global process for transformation

The UN Food Systems Summit process was launched in 2021 “in the midst of a global pandemic” to catalyse national and global action to make food systems more inclusive, resilient and sustainable.  

The 2025 stocktake brought together over 3,000 participants from governments, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and the private sector to assess progress and renew commitments.

To date, more than 130 countries have developed National Pathways for food systems transformation, supported by UN agencies and development partners.

Moving the UNFSS process forward

In her address, Ms. Mohammed highlighted several areas of progress and called for urgent, coordinated action:

  • Food systems as climate solutions: 
    “Food and agriculture are now part of the climate plans of 168 countries,” she said, noting their potential to reduce emissions and build resilience.
  • School meals as a strategic investment: 
    Over 170 countries are implementing school meal programmes. These are not just meals – they are investments in children, our farmers, and the future.
  • Cities driving innovation: 
    Urban centres are leading efforts to reduce food waste and strengthen local supply chains. Cities are showing what innovation looks like on the ground.
  • Inclusion is essential: 
    Ms. Mohammed called for inclusion of youth, Indigenous Peoples, women, and marginalized communities. “These are powerful commitments to transform food systems for people and the planet that you have helped inspire.”
  • Financing must match ambition: 
    She urged donors and development banks to align investments with national pathways.  

“As we conclude this Stocktake, we must acknowledge that we met in the face of challenges that test our moral values and threaten the future sustainability of our planet, underscoring the urgency of our work together.”

A food market in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.

Global hunger declines, but regional disparities persist

The Summit, which has been running in the Ethiopian capital since 27 July, saw the launch of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 (SOFI) report, which revealed a modest decline in global hunger – but a troubling rise in food insecurity in Africa and Western Asia  

Jointly produced by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, the report highlights how persistent food price inflation has undermined access to healthy diets, especially for low-income populations. Vulnerable groups – including women, children, and rural communities – remain disproportionately affected.

The report calls for:

  • Coherent fiscal and monetary policies to stabilize markets
  • Open and resilient trade systems
  • Targeted social protection for at-risk populations
  • Sustained investment in resilient agrifood systems

While noting an encouraging decrease in the global hunger rate, the report underscored that progress is uneven. SOFI 2025 serves as a critical reminder that the international community must intensify efforts to ensure that everyone has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.  

Hope for those who need it most

At a key side event on Tuesday, Ms. Mohammed appealed for long-term, inclusive solutions to food insecurity in crisis-affected regions. She highlighted the staggering toll of acute malnutrition, noting that over 37 million children under five will face acute malnutrition this year – nearly 10 million of them suffering from severe wasting, the deadliest form of undernutrition.

“Communities are trapped in relentless cycles of hardship,” she said. “But courage is on display at all moments.”

Ms. Mohammed urged governments and partners to move beyond short-term interventions and embrace transformative, locally driven solutions. She praised countries embedding resilience into national strategies and combining traditional knowledge with science to rebuild food systems.

“These governments are not waiting for permission – they are leading,” she said.

She outlined three priorities for action: Catalytic finance that builds local capacity; Coordinated responses that bridge humanitarian and development divides; and Community-centred approaches, especially for women and youth.

“Food systems transformation is especially critical in complex settings,” she said. “It drives food security, resilience, stability, and inclusive growth.”

She wrapped up the event with a call to strengthen multilateralism and unlock opportunity “for and with those who need it most.”

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed (left) serves food to children at a UN Food Systems Summit event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Looking ahead

Ms. Mohammed closed the Summit with a call to action:

“Our movement has shown what is possible when we work together in deliberate ways across sectors, stakeholders, and countries with a shared purpose.”

She called on governments and people everywhere to build on what has been accomplished and continue to work together for peace and to realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda.

“Let’s continue to lead the way – together.”

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‘Bet on youth’ to realise Africa’s digital potential, UN deputy chief says

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In 2024, only 34 per cent of women and 45 per cent of men on the continent used the internet, compared to global averages of 65 and 70 per cent. Meanwhile, 98 per cent of Africans under the age of 18 do not complete school with even basic STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills, reflecting long-term underinvestment in education.  

This slow progress in digital integration and STEM education is impeding Africa’s ability to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the report noted. The “digital divide” hits marginalised groups hardest, including women and rural communities.  

“Africa is a vast and populous continent, rich in natural endowments and talents. Yet much of that potential remains underutilised,” said Philémon Yang, the President of the General Assembly in a message to the meeting.  

The potential of youth

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, told delegates that Africa must “bet on youth.”

By 2050, there will be over 850 million young people in Africa.   

“This is an incredible opportunity. Realising this potential means investing in STEM education now. It means building digital infrastructure that connects talent to opportunity,” Ms. Mohammed said.

But current systems do not sufficiently support young innovators – three-fourths of young Africans have insecure employment, lacking basic protections.

This lack of social protection is part of a wider labour rights gap, the report noted. In 2023, only 19 per cent of people in Africa had access to at least one form of social protection –such as social security or health insurance – compared to 53 per cent globally.

“Strong social protection is not just about safety nets. It is about creating the stability that allows societies to take risks, innovate and grow,” Ms. Mohammed said. 

People-cantered approaches

The report calls on governments and partners to adopt a people-cantered approach that promotes digital and technological innovation while also decent work, rights and intellectual property.  

“Resilience cannot be achieved without governance that places people at the centre of policy design and implementation,” the report said.

Speakers also stressed that African expertise must guide solutions.

“We reaffirm our collective determination to ensure that Africa’s development is led by its own people, grounded in knowledge, innovation and social justice,” said Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health of the Gambia, speaking for the African Group.

Power of partnerships

In his message, Mr. Yang said no single African country can achieve full digital integration alone; regional cooperation and multilateral support are essential.

“[Digital tools] can offer a way into the future… [but] no country can close these gaps alone…multilateral cooperation with the United Nations at its centre has secured eight decades of unprecedented human progress,” he said.

Ms. Mohammed emphasised the possibilities “when we get this right.”

“The choice is ours — we can continue business-as-usual and watch the 2030 Agenda slip away or we can support systemic transformation.” 

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Space is not the final frontier – it is the foundation of our future: UN deputy chief

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Addressing delegates at a UN forum on peaceful uses of outer space, Amina Mohammed urged greater international cooperation as the world becomes increasingly reliant on satellites for everything from disaster response to climate monitoring.

“Space is not the final frontier. It is the foundation of our present,” she said.

“Without satellites orbiting overhead right now, global food systems would collapse within weeks. Emergency responders would lose their lifelines. Climate scientists would be flying blind. And our hopes of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would be out of reach,” she added.

Expanding access to space

For nearly seven decades, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space – the forum’s official name, has advanced international cooperation through five space treaties, sustainability guidelines and the Space 2030 Agenda.

Ms. Mohammed highlighted the UN’s efforts through the Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), in helping make space more accessible – particularly for the more than half of UN Member States that still lack a satellite in orbit.

OOSA’s programmes are opening opportunities for youth and women in developing countries, cultivating a more inclusive new generation of space leaders.

It also supports countries in building their space capabilities through technical workshops and assistance for emerging programmes, having assisted Kenya, Guatemala, Moldova and Mauritius in launching their first satellites.

Similarly, it is helping countries like Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana, use satellite data to create detailed digital models of entire cities, allowing faster disaster response and saving lives.

Space and sustainable development

Fresh from the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla, Spain, Ms. Mohammed stressed that the areas the UN defines as critical for sustainable development acceleration all depend on space technologies.

She also relayed a critical message from the conference: “In an era of constrained investment, we must align capital with high-impact solutions,” she said. “Space is one of them.”

“The view from space shows no countries, no borders – only one shared planet, one common home. Let that perspective guide you as you build the governance frameworks for space exploration and use,” she concluded.

“Let us make space a catalyst for achieving the SDGs.” 

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Fight against ‘vicious’ tuberculosis epidemic drastically underfunded: UN deputy chief

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The High-Level Meeting has been described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an unprecedented step forward by governments and all partners engaged in the fight against TB.

It comes one year on from a Ministerial Conference on Ending TB held in Moscow last November, which resulted in high-level commitments from ministers and other leaders from 120 countries to accelerate progress to end the disease.

Ms. Mohammed described TB as a “vicious epidemic,” which infects some 10.4 million people across the world, and is fuelled by poverty, inequality, migration and conflict.

The disease, she added, exists in a “vicious cycle that will require an all-systems approach that accounts for the social drivers that perpetuate its spread.”

Better health and social welfare systems, and more investment, are needed to stop this global health crisis, and better tools are needed to overcome anti-microbial resistance: some 60,000 drug-resistant cases of TB are reported every year.

The Deputy Secretary-General called for an approach to ending TB that takes a system-wide approach, promoting the broader health and well-being of entire communities and breaking out of “disease-specific silos and single goals.”

Whilst TB affects all countries and continents, more than half of all new cases occur in just five countries: in some countries – including Mozambique, the Philippines and South Africa – there are 500 cases per 100,000 people, whilst in high-income countries there are fewer than 10 per 100,000. Ms. Mohammed said that much more progress is needed if the UN is to follow through on its promise to leave no one behind.

However, progress, she added, is possible if efforts to end the epidemic are based on the best data and science, informed decisions, empowered communities, and strategic and well-financed action.

Ms. Mohammed said that WHO will lead cross-UN efforts to support governments, working together with civil society and all partners to drive a faster response to TB.

Just one week ago, on 18 September, the WHO released its latest Global Tuberculosis Report, which showed that countries are not doing enough to end TB, and that funding is the most urgent stumbling block.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of an ambitious Political Declaration on TB, endorsed by Heads of State, which is intended to strengthen action and investments for ending of TB, and save millions of lives.

 

‘This is not just ice’: Glaciers support human livelihoods, UN deputy chief says

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Located in north-central Tajikistan, the glacier is a vital water source for many communities in Central Asia, feeding rivers and helping to sustain millions of lives and livelihoods.

But due to climate change, it is melting. Quickly. Over the past 80 years, it lost the equivalent of 6.4 million Olympic sized pools of water.

The International Conference on Glaciers Preservation, held 29 May – 1 June in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe, is highlighting the ways in which glacier retreat threatens lives and livelihoods worldwide.

“This is not just ice. This is food, water and security for generations to come,” said Ms. Mohammed.

‘Our glaciers are dying’

Glaciers, along with ice sheets, store approximately 70 per cent of the world’s freshwater, making them essential for human survival and economies. But five of the past six years have witnessed the most rapid glacier retreat on record.

“Our glaciers are dying,” said Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a co-organizer of the conference.

“The death of a glacier means much more than the loss of ice. It is a mortal blow to our ecosystems, economies, and social fabric.”

Melting glaciers increase the likelihood and severity of floods and mudslides, in addition to impacting various industries such as agriculture and forestry.  

Bridging science and action 

Ms. Mohammad said that the rate of glacier retreat means that the international community must take immediate action. 

“The time to act is now for our people and our planet,” she said.  

The conference in Dushanbe has worked to elevate glacier preservation to the top of the worldwide climate agenda ahead of the UN COP30 climate change conference in Brazil this November.

Ms. Saulo emphasized that strengthening glacier monitoring and improving warning systems for glacier collapse will help “bridge science and services.” She also said that this must all translate into concrete action to slow glacier retreat.  

In Tajikistan specifically, Parvathy Ramaswami — the UN Resident Coordinator in the country — said that they have focused on supporting farmers through training and knowledge transfer for local communities.  

“[The training] means that more children are safe from disasters, they can go to school, learn and grow,” she explained. “Families and communities become resilient and prosper.” 

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed (centre) with Model UN youths and Ambassador for a Day in Tajikistan.

Intergenerational conversations

In Tajikistan, the Deputy Secretary-General met with many youth climate activists. She emphasized that actions to address glacier retreat must be intergenerational, much like the conversations which the conference encouraged. 

“The global decisions we are shaping today will affect [young people’s] lives. So to think that we can begin to shape a person’s future without them, really doesn’t bode well for the rights that they have to determine their future, their aspirations,” she said.

In giving advice to younger generations, she expressed hope that young activists would continue to advocate for their vision of the future. 

“They should continue to raise their voices, they should continue to have their courage of conviction, they should remember that this is about a life journey and they need to make every step count.”