President Ruto Calls for Bold Reforms at UN Security Council to Address Global Crises

President William Ruto has urged for urgent and bold reforms at the United Nations Security Council, citing the increasing inadequacy of the current multilateral system in addressing critical global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and debt. Speaking at the Summit of the Future plenary during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Ruto emphasized that without immediate and transformative action, humanity faces an unprecedented global crisis.

"We have no choice but to reject outdated systems and reimagine a framework of international cooperation that works for all 8 billion people," President Ruto said, calling for sweeping changes to tackle evolving global issues. He emphasized the need to redesign the international financial system, strengthen partnerships for collective security, bridge the digital divide, and invest in human capacity. He pointed out that only 17% of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are currently on track due to unmet financial commitments, with funding shortages disproportionately affecting developing countries, particularly in Africa and the Global South.

Highlighting the issue of justice, President Ruto advocated for addressing the historical lack of Africa's permanent representation on the UN Security Council as part of ongoing UN reforms. In his address, President Ruto also praised the Kenya-led Multinational Support Mission in Haiti, stating that the contingent had achieved tangible progress, despite limited resources, bringing hope for peace in the region. Additionally, President Ruto outlined Kenya's efforts to combat climate change, including the ambitious plan to increase the country's forest cover to 30% by 2030 through the planting of 15 billion trees, a project largely led by the youth. He also highlighted the **ClimateWorX** initiative, launched two weeks prior, which aims to employ 200,000 young Kenyans in sustainable ecological restoration projects and infrastructure development.

During an interactive dialogue session at the summit, the President also called for addressing the structural and monetary challenges that plague multilateral financial institutions and hinder the ability of developing nations to meet their SDG targets. He noted the importance of reforms, such as improving fiscal capacity, managing rising debt, addressing unfair credit ratings, and tackling uneven interest rates. President Ruto pointed to the upcoming fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain next year, describing it as a critical opportunity to implement significant reforms necessary for achieving the SDGs.