# UN General Assembly: Global Leaders Face War, AI and Climate Crisis
- Medio: Civic Coast News (https://civiccoastnews.com)
- URL: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/un-general-assembly-global-leaders-face-war-ai-and-climate-crisis
- Sección: World
- Autor: Civic Coast News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-09-22T07:09:15.509Z
> Global heads of state gather at the U.N. amid geopolitical fractures, artificial intelligence debates, and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Congo and Myanmar.

## Las claves

- World leaders meet at the UN General Assembly to address wars, AI risks, and climate shocks
- The gathering occurs amidst financial strain on the U.N. and significant diplomatic absences from Russia and China
- Reforms to the Security Council and international cooperation remain central agenda items

World leaders are gathering at the United Nations this week for their annual high-level meeting, confronting a global landscape defined by persistent wars and deep divisions. The U.N. General Assembly session will address escalating conflicts in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo, and Myanmar, alongside pressing concerns regarding climate change and economic instability. As hundreds of millions face rising costs and supply chain disruptions, the assembly also confronts fears that runaway artificial intelligence may threaten humanity without adequate global guardrails.

### Geopolitical Fractures and Diplomatic Absences

The gathering is marked by significant geopolitical fractures. While approximately 130 heads of state are expected to speak, several major powers have chosen not to attend in person. Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington instead of attending the assembly, sending a vice president in his place. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also declined to participate.

Despite these absences, key figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron are scheduled to speak on Tuesday following Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ opening address. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will speak Wednesday, followed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to address the assembly via video after the U.S. refused him a visa.

### U.N. Financial Strain and Reform Challenges

The United Nations faces internal challenges alongside external crises. The organization’s finances remain strained due to unpaid arrears, though recent payments of $725 million have prevented the loss of voting rights in the General Assembly. Richard Gowan, a director at the International Crisis Group, described the U.N. as being "stuck in an open-ended or permanent crisis" rather than facing immediate collapse.

Reform of the U.N., particularly regarding the Security Council’s composition and veto power held by five nations, remains on the agenda but is widely viewed as difficult to implement. The future leadership of the organization is also under scrutiny, with Secretary-General Guterres’ term ending December 31, as this newspaper reported in [Global Leaders Return to UN Amid Middle East and Ukraine Conflicts](/noticia/global-leaders-return-to-un-amid-middle-east-and-ukraine-conflicts).

### Artificial Intelligence Takes Center Stage

A significant portion of the discourse will focus on artificial intelligence. Following warnings from major AI companies about losing human control over technology, President Trump dismissed these concerns as a "hoax" while urging continued advancement to maintain U.S. competitiveness against China. The U.N. Security Council has added a high-level meeting on AI to its agenda.

Secretary-General Guterres described the current era as one of deep uncertainty and three existential threats, emphasizing that international cooperation is more necessary than ever. As diplomats engage in hundreds of private meetings across New York, the focus remains on whether multilateral dialogue can effectively address global polarization and security challenges.
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Fuente original: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/un-general-assembly-global-leaders-face-war-ai-and-climate-crisis