Guterres calls for massive global aid and financial reform to meet developing nations' SDGs

At the BRICS summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for sweeping international assistance to enable developing countries to fulfil their Sustainable Development Goals, warning that the 1.5 °C limit is close to being breached. He called on multilateral development banks to redesign their operations to mobilise large-scale private investment and increase concessional funding, while advocating a more equitable global financial architecture that gives developing nations greater decision-making power.

Guterres stressed four pillars for inclusive growth: financing, technology—including AI—climate justice, and peace, citing extreme weather events as evidence of urgent action. He reminded wealthy states of their pledge to provide $300 billion annually under COP 29 and urged stronger debt-relief mechanisms. The UN chief also promoted the Global Network for AI capacity building and the Global Fund for AI to narrow the technology gap.