Although therehavebeenalltoomanyconflicts since1945, wehavesofarescaped athirdworldwarandhaveperhaps learnedmorethanwerealizeabouttechniques andexpedients foravoiding sucha.terminal disaster. Wehaveachieved un­ precedented economic growthandsocialprogress, inwhich developing countries haveshared,although notyetinsuffi­ cientmeasure. Wearemakingcollective effortstorespond tothenewgeneration ofglobalpreblems whichmostlystem fromtheneedtoprotecttheplanetanditsresources while providing forallofitspeople.Thereisagreaterinternational responsiveness tohumanitarian challenges wherever they occur.Theprotection ofhumanrights,for.alltheviolations thatstillpersist,isbecoming aworld-wide concern. More international lawaffecting virtually allareasofhuman activityhasbeencodified inthepast40yearsthaninallthe previous yearsofrecorded history.Muchofithasbeendone undertheauspices oftheGeneral Assembly. Theworldisstill,admittedly, averyimperfect, insecure, unjust,dangerous and,inalltoomanyregions, impover­ ishedplace,butintheachievements Ihavementioned above-and inmanyothers-we haveafoundation tobuild on.ItismainlyuptoGovernments todecideiftheywish toco-operate inbuilding onthisfoundation auseful,coherent, effective institution, orwhether theychoosethealternative thatmaysometimes seemeasierintheshortrun,each 2 ReportoftheSecretary-General ontheworkoftheOf"1(anization takingitsownshort-sighted andself-interested course.Inthat ithastobecome amoreeffective institution. Ishouldlike case,thepromising foundations, established withsomuch todiscussthisproblem inthecontextoftheprincipal respon- thought· andhardwork,willendupsurmounted byaram- sibilities laiddownintheCharter. bling,contentious slum,thebreeding groundofendlessnew troubles anddisasters. Surelythefirstalternative istheone *'"'" whichmustbechosen. '"*'" Therearetwobasicfunctions whichmaketheUnited Nations anessential enterprise. Thefirstistoprovide an instrument throughwhichacollective effortcanbemadeto meetemergencies anddealwithcurrentproblems. Thesevary frominternational conflicts, through disputes among States,tohumanitarian emergencies andsuddeneconomic andsocialcrisesaffecting millions ofpeople. Thesecondfunction isofamorelong-term natureandis relatedtothecomplex phaseofpolitical andeconomic development inwhichourworldnowfindsitself.Throughout historythere"-basbeenanaturalpolitical progression from smallgroupstolargerones-from familytotribe,totown, tocity,toprovince, tonationstate.Thisprogression hastaken placemoreorlessspontaneously atdifferent timesindif­ ferentregions, aseconomic lifehasbecome morecomplex, specialized andinterdependent. Thuswehavearrivedata worldwhichisalmostentirelycomposed ofnationstates.The sovereign independent Stateisthelargestpolitical entityand themainunitofthestructure oftheUnitedNations. Therearenow,however, anumberofproblems andrealities withwhichonlyalargerunitycaneffectively dealandwhere therequisite securityorcommon interestcanonlybeachieved throughacollective effortofsovereign States.Manyofthese problems lendthemselves besttosubregional orregional co­ operation ingroupsofnationswithcommon interests, but manyothersalreadytranscend theregional dimension. We have,whether welikeitornot,createdaworldwhichisin manyrespects oneworld.Onsomemajorproblems affect­ ingallhumanity wehavereached aglobalstagewhere interdependence isafactoflife. AbasicroleoftheUnitedNations, therefore, istoserve asthefoundation onwhichtobuild,the international system ofthefuture,asystemfullyrecognizing national sovereign­ tybutalsorecognizing thatsomeofourpresentrealities and concerns callurgently forsomething more. Anyonewhocontemplates theprospects forthefutureof humanity mustconclude thatthetwofunctions towhichI havereferred willbecome increasingly urgent,perhaps even indispensable tosurvival. Inthe40yearssince1945the population oftheworldhasmorethandoubled. Inthenext 15yearsitwillincrease byonethird.Someofthestrains andstressesintheworldcommunity willcertainly stemfrom thepressure oninstitutions andresources resulting fromthis population explosion. Butwemustalsoconsider themanyprecarious balances oftheclaimsandambitions ofnations:theunresolved disputes wecarrywithusintothefuture;themanysmouldering con­ flictsofideas,beliefsandinterests inthisworld;thedizzy paceofthetechnological revolution bothinproduction and­ inweapons; thewidening gulfbetween abundance andab­ solutepoverty; thewebofeconomic tieswhichlocksallparts oftheworldtogether; andthesteadily increasing dangerof deepharmtothebiosphere onwhichlifedepends. Sucha list-and itcouldeasilybemadelonger-makes itclearthat international co-operation, however complex anddifficult to organize, isnotachoiceforthenationsoftheworld,but aJ.1CCe8Sity. However, iftheUnitedNations isfullytoplaytheroleI haveindicated inthedevelop.nt oftheinternational system,Intermsofitsfirstbasicfunction ofmeeting emergencies
**Analysis**
The text discusses the role of the United Nations in addressing global problems, including economic growth, social progress, humanitarian challenges, and environmental concerns. It emphasizes the need for international cooperation to tackle complex issues that transcend national borders and require collective effort. The text also touches on the importance of sustainable development, recognizing that the world is facing unprecedented challenges such as population growth, technological advancements, and environmental degradation.

**Category**
Economic development, Humanitarian aid and relief, Natural resources and environment