Trudeau calls on world leaders at United Nations to ignore differences for the greater good
Prime minister to co-host event on climate change with European Commission chief
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that at a time when the world faces increasing instability, leaders have a choice: bury their heads in the sand or put their differences aside for the sake of future generations.
"We can recognize that, collectively, we have a responsibility to set our differences aside, to confront the serious global challenges and to deliver on a pact for the future," Trudeau said at the Summit of the Future in New York on Sunday, part of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Summit of the Future, announced by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in 2021, continues through Monday. The General Assembly, which began on Sept. 10, turns to high-level general debate on Tuesday.
The summit's goal is to reform the UN, reinvigorate multilateralism and agree on solutions to new challenges at a time when the global institution has faced criticism for its handling of issues, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the war in Gaza.
Guterres urged member nations last week to compromise and approve the Pact of the Future, a blueprint to address a wide range of global challenges. But there's been pushback from Russia, Saudi Arabia and other countries who object to some of the language on issues, including climate change and reforming international financial institutions.
Trudeau urged leaders to deliver on the plan so that every generation "has a real and fair shot."
Trudeau was scheduled to meet on Sunday with Guterres, as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. He is also set to appear on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday night.
"While diplomacy is hard and diplomacy about diplomacy is even harder, we can do hard things," Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, said Wednesday.
"We can think beyond what has been, push ourselves to create a system that meets this moment and the opportunities of the future."
Thomas-Greenfield said the Biden administration supports changes to the makeup of the UN Security Council, helping it become more inclusive through creation of two permanent seats for Africans and a new elected seat for small island developing states.
Canada has been active at the United Nations since it was formed in 1945 and helped draft the UN Charter.
PM co-chair of group for sustainable development
Trudeau, co-chair of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Advocates group, will reaffirm Canada's commitment to its 2030 Agenda, a 15-year global framework adopted in 2015 that envisions a secure world free of poverty and hunger, with equal education and universal health coverage, as well as other lofty goals.
He will also co-host a discussion with Haiti's acting prime minister, Garry Conille, about "solutions that are Haitian-led," a news release said.
Canada is closely invested in Haiti's response to the ongoing humanitarian, security and political crises. A UN report released in June said surging gang activity had displaced nearly 580,000 people in the Caribbean country since March.
While at the assembly, Trudeau will also co-host an event with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about climate change, carbon pricing and industrial decarbonization.
Pressing geopolitical challenges and the conflict in the Middle East will cast a shadow over the assembly and its formidable future plans.
Canada abstained last week from a high-profile UN vote demanding that Israel end its "unlawful presence" in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank within a year.
The State of Palestine brought the non-binding motion, which passed 124-14. Canada was among 43 abstentions. The United States voted against it.
"We cannot support a resolution where one party, the State of Israel, is held solely responsible for the conflict," said Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the UN.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also set to address a special meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday about Russia's ongoing invasion, Thomas-Greenfield said.
Russia has a permanent seat on the Security Council and has been resoundingly criticized over its aggression in Ukraine being a violation of the UN Charter.
"We intend to keep the pressure on Russia," Thomas-Greenfield said.
The prime minister is attending the assembly in New York until Wednesday morning. Later that day, the Trudeau government is expected to face its first test in the House of Commons since the NDP ended its supply-and-confidence deal with the Liberals.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is putting forward a motion stating the House has no confidence in the government or the prime minister. Members will vote on it Wednesday.
The New Democrats and Bloc Québécois have said they intend to vote against the motion, avoiding a general election.
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