The state of the planet will be a key topic of discussion during the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, which gets underway in September 2023 with high-level events on the climate crisis, the Sustainable Development Goals and more. Tune in here for the latest developments.
19 Sep
2023
20:21
Happening now: high-level debate
World leaders are gathering today in New York to engage in the annual high-level General Debate under the theme, “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.”
Heads of state and ministers will explore solutions to intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security and sustainable development.
Watch the meetings live and on demand at UN Web TV or on the General Debate website.
19 Sep
2023
19:37
Emmy-nominated actor: There is “hope” in the fight against climate crisis
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, best known for starring in the landmark series Game of Thrones, called for urgent action to address the climate crisis during a moderated talk at the UN General Assembly on Monday.
Coster-Waldau also discussed his upcoming documentary, An Optimist's Guide to the Planet, which highlights his travels exploring various environmental solutions.
“The reality is climate change is threatening all of us,” he said. “[But] there is hope. If you get the impression that all hope is out, that there’s no solution, that we can’t solve this, then why bother? We need to bother.”
19 Sep
2023
17:14
Watch: SDGs about “justice”, says UNEP Executive Director
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are ultimately about securing justice for the least fortunate and ensuring the prospects of future generations are not compromised, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said yesterday.
Speaking after the announcement of a joint declaration in which countries promised “bold, accelerated” action on the goals, Andersen highlighted the need for international cooperation to ensure the SDGs don’t slip away.
“It is only by working together in multilateral settings that we can reach… for the SDGs. That is how we live without poverty.”
19 Sep
2023
12:00
On today: The Environmental Costs of Fast Fashion
This event, organized by Futerra and UN Climate Change, will explore how the fashion industry can reduce its emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases.
Amid a global surge in inexpensive, almost-disposable clothes, the sector has become a driver of the climate crisis, responsible for up to 8 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions.
To reduce that toll, experts say the fashion industry, including textile makers, must embrace a more circular economic model.
19 Sep
2023
08:02
Coming up today
Here are a few of the high-level events taking place at 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly today:
- The SDG Summit: Businesses and non-governmental organizations discuss working together to advance the SDGs.
- Elevating Education as a Win-Win for the SDGs: This event will explore how countries brace their education systems for the worsening climate crisis.
- General Debate: A high-level debate on accelerating efforts to achieve the SDGs.
- High-Level Event for Nature and People: How countries and non-state actors are halting and reversing biodiversity loss to ensure successful implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
- Winning Strategies for Financing the SDGs: Government officials, business leaders and development experts will discuss how to bolster financing for the SDGs.
19 Sep
2023
08:00
Coming up today at the General Assembly
Several important events are on Tuesday’s agenda.
The SDG Summit (9am EST) will feature businesses and non-governmental organizations working to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
Elevating Education as a Win-Win for the SDGs (11am EST) will explore how countries can brace their education systems for the climate crisis, which threatens for force many children to abandon school.
World leaders will gather for the annual high-level General Debate, whose theme centres on accelerating the effort to achieve the SDGs.
The High-Level Event for Nature and People (1pm EST) will include real-world examples of how countries and non-state actors are halting and reversing biodiversity loss.
Winning Strategies for Financing the SDGs (3pm EST) will see government officials, business leaders and development experts discuss how to bolster financing for the SDGs.
18 Sep
2023
20:13
World leaders agree to "step up" efforts on Sustainable Development Goals
World leaders agreed today to supercharge their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), humanity’s blueprint for a better future.
In a joint declaration , countries promised “bold, ambitious, accelerated” action on the goals, just 15 per cent of which are on track. The vow came during the SDG Summit , which marks the midway point of the global effort to realize the goals.
On Saturday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underlined the importance of the SDGs. “They are about righting historic wrongs, healing global divisions and putting our world on a path to lasting peace.”
18 Sep
2023
19:25
Poet calls on world to protect nature
Poet and activist Jordan Sanchez recited a new poem on Sunday during a high-level event in New York, urging humanity to end what she called the destruction of the natural world.
"To explore the Earth is your birthright. But to pillage it is not," she said. "This planet is no puppet. She listens and she speaks. Her words are the crackling embers, and her screams are floods in the streets."
Sanchez read the work, entitled "hudson river", at a UNEP-backed event designed to showcase how the natural world can help drive economic growth and sustainable development.
18 Sep
2023
18:37
Watch: Nature driving economic transformation
Nature, and the resources and services it provides, underpins the global economy. But around the world, natural spaces are disappearing at an alarming rate. This short video explores how countries can lay the foundation for sustainable growth by protecting and restoring nature.
18 Sep
2023
16:54
Climate change undermines nearly all the Sustainable Development Goals
Only 15 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track, says the United in Science report, which examines the impact of climate change and extreme weather on the goals.
The new multi-agency report coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and released last week, illustrates how weather, climate and water-related sciences can advance aims such as food and water security, clean energy, better health, sustainable oceans and resilient cities.
The annual report combines input and expertise from 18 organizations and was issued ahead of the SDG Summit and Climate Ambition Summit at the United Nations General Assembly taking place this week.
