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
2024
09:00
On the sidelines of the High-Level Week: Signing of MoU between UNEP and the State of Pará, Brazil
Belém, the capital of Pará, is set to host the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), marking the first time a COP will be hosted in the Amazon. In the context of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Global Stocktake and forest-related targets, Pará has set ambitious targets including ending deforestation by 2030, which aligns with international climate goals. The state has also committed to reforesting over 1 million hectares by 2035 as part of its Green Recovery Plan.
Pará’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNEP will highlight collaboration between the two parties and ensure that UNEP plays a leading role at COP30. The partnership will also help secure dedicated spaces for advocacy and elevate the focus on forests and Nature-based Solutions. The signing is set to happen at a high-level roundtable event at the Nature Hub on 24 September during the New York Climate Week.
Read the full event announcement.
19 Sep
2024
11:27
UNEP Chief Scientist to speak at Summit of the Future Side Event: 20 September
UNEP Chief Scientist, Andrea Hinwood, will speak at the hybrid event “Systems approaches to long-term decision-making for sustainability” on 20 September 2024, 1645-1800 hrs EDT.
Taking place on the side lines of the Summit of the Future Action Days, the event is hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the International Science Council (ISC), UNEP, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, and The Future of Climate Cooperation.
The program will examine science-based, practical approaches available for governments and intergovernmental organizations to use systems thinking to enhance long-term perspectives in decision-making for sustainable development. Participants will highlight recent scientific reports, including UNEP’s Foresight Report on Planetary Health and Human Wellbeing, and the work of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.
18 Sep
2024
14:00
UNEP Executive Director to speak at SDG Digital Event: 21 September
UNEP Executive Director, Inger Andersen, will speak at the SDG Digital event “A Digital Future for All – Sustainable and Prosperous” on 21 September 2024, 1217-1300 hrs EDT.
The event reflects ongoing multilateral efforts to leverage digital innovation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), set within the broader context of this year’s UN General Assembly, the Summit of the Future and its Action Days.
By convening leaders from government, civil society, the private sector, youth, and academia, SDG Digital will propel participants forward into the future, encouraging exploration of the trends, risks, and opportunities presented by digital and emerging technologies.
18 Sep
2024
12:40
UNEP Executive Director to address High-Level Roundtable on Global Digital Compact: 21 September
UNEP’s Executive Director, Inger Andersen, will address the High-Level Roundtable “The Global Digital Compact: A Roadmap to Advance Sustainable Digital Transformation for an Equitable and Sustainable World” on 21 September 2024, 1630-1830 hrs EDT.
As part of the Summit of the Future, this side event aims to present a roadmap towards the implementation of the UN Global Digital Compact (GDC), an important summit outcome that was co-facilitated by the Governments of Zambia and Sweden.
The event will also witness the launch of a new UNEP Issue Note on the Environmental Impacts of AI, which will provide critical insights into how AI can be deployed in ways that support climate action, reduce waste, and promote responsible resource management.
18 Sep
2024
11:53
United in Science report launched ahead of Summit of the Future
The annual United in Science report was published on September 18. This comprehensive report summarizes the latest findings on weather, climate, water and related environmental and social sciences. It is coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization.
In collaboration with UN agencies, meteorological organizations and scientific research institutions, the report also highlights contributions from young people and early career scientists who are agents of change for the future.
This year's edition of United in Science places a special focus on the Summit of the Future, which provides a unique opportunity to refocus multilateral efforts to achieve global goals and create a better world for all.
17 Sep
2024
15:00
Summit of the Future Side Event on AMR: 25 September 2024
On the margins of the Summit of the Future and the high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of the 79th UN General Assembly, this hybrid side event on AMR will take place on 25 September 2024, 1830-2030 hrs ET. The theme of the event is “UNGA 2024 High-level Meeting on AMR and beyond: Bringing the voices and perspectives of the Low-and middle-income countries into the dialogue”.
Convened by the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions and the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR hosted by the World Health Organization, the program aims to amplify the voices and perspectives of low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) and vulnerable communities most impacted by AMR. It brings together representatives of UN Member States with a focus on LMICs, civil society, private sector, and other key stakeholders interested in AMR.
Read the full event announcement and register here.
17 Sep
2024
09:51
SDG Lounge at Summit of the Future: 20–26 September
Running alongside the Summit of the Future during the High-Level Week of the 79th UN General Assembly, the SDG Lounge from 20–26 September will be a vibrant space to accelerate multilateral action toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Convened by the UN Deputy-Secretary General and hosted by the UN Office for Partnerships, the SDG Lounge will feature unscripted dialogues, deep dives into vital issues and host interactive experiences—all designed to keep the promise of the SDGs today, tomorrow and for future generations to come.
13 Sep
2024
10:00
Summit of the Future a key opportunity to reinvigorate multilateralism: UNEP Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
In a recent op-ed for Arab News, UNEP’s director of intergovernmental affairs, Jamil Ahmad, highlighted the need for robust multilateralism ahead of the Summit of the Future.
“With the world facing a slew of complex global crises — not least conflict, poverty, hunger, climate change, nature loss and pollution — multilateral action faces a formidable challenge in meeting global development goals,“ Ahmad noted. “The Summit of the Future represents a critical opportunity to reimagine and reinvigorate our global governance structures for a more sustainable and equitable future,” he added.
Taking place on 22-23 September in parallel to the UN General Assembly, the Summit of the Future brings world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on the implementation of global development goals, human rights, and peace and security.
11 Sep
2024
11:47
Summit of the Future Side Event on 20 September: "Digital Environmental Sustainability and AI for the Global Digital Compact"
AI and digital technologies are key to advancing the 2030 Agenda, driving progress in climate action, energy efficiency, and the circular economy. However, they also bring challenges like increased energy use, GHG emissions, and e-waste.
Organized by the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES), this side event of the Summit of the Future will focus on governing AI and digital technologies. The event will facilitate discussions about the Environmental Sustainability Principle of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) and best practices for sustainable AI. Participants will be able to network with diverse stakeholder groups and experts at the intersection of digital innovation, sustainability, and policy.
The key outcomes of the event include:
➡️ Organize follow-up on the GDC’s Environmental Sustainability Mandate
➡️ Initiate actions for sustainable AI for the 2030 Agenda
➡️ Present UNEP’s Issue Brief on sustainable AI
Read the full event announcement and register here.
09 Sep
2024
10:00
Topics to watch out for at the Summit of the Future
The Summit of the Future is set to start in less than two weeks. Here, we want to highlight the biggest challenges facing our shared future that will be addressed during the summit.
➡️ New agenda for peace
➡️ Fair finance for all countries
➡️ AI that works for everyone
➡️ Peaceful use of outer space
➡️ Safe digital access for everyone
➡️ Youth leading for the future
Stay tuned as world leaders gather on 22-23 September at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City to take action for all of humanity.
