The Peacebuilding Commission elected Marc-André Blanchard (Canada) as Chair of its 2020 session today, while hearing an exchange of views on its work plan, covering the need for a “quantum leap” of support to the Peacebuilding Fund and the importance of expanding partnerships.
The General Assembly concluded today its consideration of the Secretary-General’s report on the work of the United Nations, taking note of that text after delegates emphasized the urgent need to strengthen multilateralism in order to ease global tensions, tackle the climate crisis and realize the Sustainable Development Goals.
With a new decade dawning and the United Nations marking its seventy-fifth anniversary, Secretary-General António Guterres warned the General Assembly today that 2020 is also beginning in the midst of four existential threats — surging geopolitical tensions, the climate crisis, dangerous technology and deepening mistrust — against which the international community must mobilize rapidly.
The General Assembly today decided to increase the membership of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions — an expert body to examine United Nations budget proposals — from 16 to 21 members, thus achieving more equitable geographical representation, effective on 1 January 2021.
The global climate emergency as well as zero-sum geopolitics, declining development assistance and rising global debt set the backdrop for world leaders as the General Assembly began the annual general debate for its seventy-fourth session, with many calling for solidarity to meet the planet’s most pressing challenges.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) concluded the main part of its seventy‑fourth session on Friday, approving resources totalling $3.07 billion for 2020, its first annual budget since 1973 and $200 million more than the $2.87 billion outlay proposed by Secretary‑General António Guterres in early October.
Concluding the main part of its seventy-fourth session, the General Assembly adopted 22 resolutions and one decision recommended by its main Committees, including a $3.07 billion regular budget for the Secretariat in 2020, some $200 million more than the amount requested by the Secretary-General.
The General Assembly decided today to defer its recess and to extend the work of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) until Friday, 27 December.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) briefly met today to inform Member States of the extension of its work until Friday, 27 December.
As waning multilateralism and burgeoning inequalities threaten to side-track the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the General Assembly today adopted 47 resolutions and four related decisions aimed at bolstering nation’s efforts to reach agreed goals.
