François Picard is pleased to welcome Marcos Athias Neto, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Administrator of UNDP. In Mr. Neto’s opinion, the world today is experiencing a deep development crisis. Global development should not be understood as a secondary or charitable concern, he explains, but as the basis of global stability itself. In an era defined by geopolitical tensions, climate disruptions and economic uncertainty, development is no longer simply “soft power” but has become the “first line of defense” against instability.
Energy security, reconstruction and digital transformation are interconnected elements of this broader development challenge. While current geopolitical crises highlight the vulnerabilities of global energy systems, they also reveal an opportunity: the transition to renewable energy can simultaneously strengthen energy security, create jobs and build more resilient economies. However, the global system is under pressure, warns Neto. Official development assistance is declining, multilateral cooperation is being tested and technological change risks widening global inequalities. If two billion people remain disconnected from the Internet, conversations about AI governance will remain irrelevant for much of the world. For the UN Under-Secretary-General, the way forward requires a renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation, strategic investment in jobs and supply chains in developing countries, and policies that align climate action with economic development. If countries work together to expand opportunities in sectors such as green energy, digital infrastructure and sustainable industry, development can once again become the stabilizing force the world urgently needs.
