“We must turn the greatest collective challenge facing humankind today – climate change – into the greatest opportunity for common progress towards a sustainable future.”

Extreme weather events continue to grow more frequent and intense in rich and poor countries alike, not only devastating lives, but also infrastructure, institutions, and budgets – an unholy brew which can create dangerous security vacuums.

The clear and present danger of climate change means we cannot burn our way to prosperity. We already rely too heavily on fossil fuels. We need to find a new, sustainable path to the future we want. We need a clean industrial revolution.

One of my earliest memories is walking up a muddy road into the mountains. It was raining. Behind me, my village was burning. When there was school, it was under a tree. Then the United Nations came. They fed me, my family, my community.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment have been a top priority for me from day one as Secretary-General. And I am committed to making sure that the U.N. leads by example.

It has been said that knowledge is power. We need to strengthen education systems so that young people can benefit from cultural diversity, and not be victimized by those who exploit differences.

Sustainable development and climate change are two sides of the same coin

I call on men and boys everywhere to join us. Violence against women and girls will not be eradicated until all of us – men and boys – refuse to tolerate it.

Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth – these are one and the same fight.

Achieving gender equality requires the engagement of women and men, girls and boys. It is everyones responsibility.

The world is over-armed and peace is under-funded.

The international community must offer short-term emergency measures to meet critical needs. But it must also make longer-term investments to promote food production and agricultural development, enhance food security and maintain and accelerate momentum towards the MDGs.

Every literate woman is a victory over poverty

I have been urging the leaders to listen to the aspirations and challenges of their own people, and engage in dialogue and take very bold measures. Normally, to their regret, these measures and bold reforms come too late, too little.

Climate change does not respect border; it does not respect who you are – rich and poor, small and big. Therefore, this is what we call global challenges, which require global solidarity.

Climate change is destroying our path to sustainability. Ours is a world of looming challenges and increasingly limited resources. Sustainable development offers the best chance to adjust our course.

Our atmosphere can’t tell the difference between emissions from an Asian factory, the exhaust from a North American SUV, or deforestation in South America or Africa.

She (a woman politician) will be challenging a system that is still wedded to militarism and that saves billions of dollars a year by underpaying women and using them as a reserve cheap labor supply

I am confident that we will meet whatever challenges the future may bring.

As a company grows, communication becomes its biggest challenge.

The present challenge to the photographer is to express inner significance through outward form.

For me life is a challenge. And it will be a challenge if I live to be 100 or if I get to be a trillionaire.

Climate change…is, simply, the greatest collective challenge we face as a human family.

I’d like to meet a lovely man who shares my interests. On the other hand, I possibly will not. It’s part of the hand you’re dealt. It’s a challenge-and I’m not atypical.

The SAS Reserve tends to be made up of former paratroopers and commandos who still want a challenge, but it is open to civilians.