The state of the planet is a key agenda item for the United Nations General Assembly. This page features related updates from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its partners, including key moments of the year such as July’s High-level Political Forum and September’s High-Level Week.
See: full list of 2025 events organized by UNEP or at which UNEP senior officials are participating
20 Sep
2025
17:32
UNEP Executive Director statement on BBNJ agreement
“Our ocean is the foundation of our very existence. Today we took an important step forward to save our ocean, and to save our future,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.
The entry into force of the historic BBNJ agreement [Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction] is a victory for our oceans, our planet and environmental multilateralism.
During the UN General Assembly high-level week, Member States are invited to sign, ratify or accede to any of the more than 600 multilateral treaties deposited with the UN Secretary‑General.
As the leading global environmental authority, UNEP administers, or provides secretariat functions for numerous Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).
20 Sep
2025
07:21
UNEP's Inger Andersen gives a preview of her week
Before she left for New York City, UNEP's Inger Andersen gave a preview of the environmental issues on the agenda when world leaders visit the UN Headquarters next week.
Follow her and UNEP's multilingual social media channels for updates.
19 Sep
2025
17:14
It's here: 80th Session of the UN General Assembly
Personnel from UNEP, including Executive Director Inger Andersen, will be at UN Headquarters taking part in a number of sessions and activities.
Here is a selection of events:
21 September | NYC Climate Murals Official “Green Walking” Tour
22 September | Climate Action: A Food Waste Breakthrough
22 September | Climate Summit 2025: High-Level Solutions Dialogue on Accelerating Early Warning and Extreme Heat Solutions
22 September | NYC Climate Action Murals: Official Unveiling Ceremony
23 September | Announcement of Young Champions of the Earth at the SDG Media Zone
24 September | Climate Summit 2025: Solutions Dialogue on Methane Reductions from Fossil Fuels
25 September | Toward Gender Transformative Action on Super Pollutants
See more: all events
04 Oct
2024
12:12
Roundup of the 79th UN General Assembly
As the curtains fell on the 79th session’s high-level debate, the President of the General Assembly on Monday reminded UN Member States that the organization’s strength “lies in our diversity” and ability to unite around common goals. Over six days, 190 Member States took to the iconic green marble podium, highlighting the pressing challenges confronting the international community and the need for global unity to overcome them. In addition, three Observers also spoke.
Here are some of the highlights of this year’s UN General Assembly.
- UNEP Executive Director speeches on INC-5; AMR; Super pollutants; Digital Transformation; Youth education for a sustainable future
- Summit of the Future and adoption of the Pact for the Future by member states
- High-Level Side Event: Galvanizing Momentum for Global Plastic Pollution Action
- COP30: Signing of MoU between UNEP and the State of Pará, Brazil
- High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance -> Watch recording.
- High-Level Meeting on Sea Level Rise
Report Launches:
30 Sep
2024
13:00
Watch the concluding session of the General Debate at UN General Assembly
Today marks the last day of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, with the concluding session of the General Debate taking place.
Watch the concluding 6th session of the General Debate live at 1300 hrs GMT:
30 Sep
2024
11:58
Look back: Last week's UN General Assembly
27 Sep
2024
14:09
UNEP Executive Director speaks about the significance of the High-Level Meeting on AMR and its outcome
On 26 September, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen addressed the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at the UN General Assembly in New York during a press conference. In her speech she urged member states and leaders to reduce the burden of AMR on societies and environment.
“Almost 40 million deaths attributable to AMR and 160 million associated with AMR between 2025 and 2050 if no action is taken. And, from 2050, a continuing annual burden of over 10 million deaths either attributed to or associated with AMR. This is far worse than we thought. It is, quite frankly, horrific,” Andersen said.
“From today, we need reaffirmed commitment. Increased trust and understanding. New empowering mandates to work better together at global, regional and country levels. We must join forces to protect nature and food security. Shield healthcare systems and economies. And save the tens of millions of lives that would otherwise be lost to the growing and insidious threat of AMR,” she added.
Read the Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on AMR.
27 Sep
2024
13:18
High-Level Side Event about the upcoming UNCCD COP16: Road to Riyadh
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, a high-level side event was held about the upcoming UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16, which will be held in Riyadh from 2-13 December, focusing on the importance of raising global efforts, to address land degradation, drought, and their social, environmental, and economic impacts.
Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of UNCCD, COP16 will be the largest UN land conference to date, and the first UNCCD COP held in the Middle East and North Africa region, which knows first-hand the impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought. COP16 is poised to be a game-changer, marking a renewed global commitment to accelerate investment and action to restore land and boost drought resilience for the benefit of people and planet.
26 Sep
2024
15:32
“Cooler Finance” Report: Mobilizing Investment for the Developing World’s Sustainable Cooling Needs
The International Finance Cooperation (IFC) and UNEP-led Cool Coalition joint report ”Cooler Finance: Mobilizing Investment for the Developing World’s Sustainable Cooling Needs” was launched at the Energy Now SDG7 Action Forum during the UN General Assembly.
The report identifies numerous private investment opportunities across different segments of the cooling market, including space cooling, refrigeration, cold chains, and transport. Furthermore, the report provides a blueprint for financing sustainable cooling technologies that are accessible, affordable, scalable and minimize environmental impact. Aiming for near-zero emissions cooling by 2050, the report encourages the increased use of passive strategies for cooling, raising energy efficiency standards and rules for cooling equipment, and accelerating the phasing down of highly polluting refrigerants.
26 Sep
2024
13:53
