UN Secretary-General António Guterres is preparing to leave office at the end of the year.

He has served for nearly a decade.

He is known for gloomy speeches about the planet, but on Thursday he said he still sees hope.

That hope depends on governments finally working together, he said.

Guterres said the world faces at least three existential problems.

They are runaway artificial intelligence, fast-moving climate change, and growing inequality that drives instability and conflict.

He also warned that a huge geopolitical divide has paralyzed the Security Council.

Powerful countries are breaking international law and the U.N. Charter, he said.

This creates a climate of impunity, he added.

He pointed to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and U.S. attacks on Iran as examples.

He said these violations have caused death and vast destruction.

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are also hurting the world economy, he said.

Food and energy prices are rising, and interest rates are going up.

Developing countries are struggling to help their people.

He hopes these problems will push countries to cooperate, since no one can solve them alone.

Guterres said the U.N., the Security Council, the IMF and the World Bank must be reformed.

They should reflect today's world and its emerging powers, he said.

As U.N. chief he has no army and little money, but he can speak out and bring nations together.

He said the U.N. has no leverage for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East because of geopolitical divides.

Still, he said he has defended the U.N. Charter and condemned human rights violations.

He condemned Hamas's attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel's actions in Gaza.

He also called for international cooperation and guardrails for AI.