UN chief says people are looking to leaders for way out of global ‘mess’

United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres arrives to the SDG Summit at the United Nations headquarters on Monday (Seth Wenig/AP)

Leaders of a world fractured by war, climate change and persisting inequality will gather under one roof to hear the UN chief summon them to take united action on humanity’s huge challenges – and to start delivering their own assessments on the most global of stages.

“People are looking to their leaders for a way out of this mess,” secretary-general Antonio Guterres said ahead of Tuesday’s annual gathering of presidents and premiers, ministers and monarchs at the General Assembly.