Archives
Nature for Life: SDG Day
The Nature for Life Hub’s first day was organized under the theme of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sessions held during the day explored ways in which protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing nature can support achieving the SDGs, in particular relating to climate change, health, security, water, jobs and livelihoods.
High-level Roundtable on Climate Action
In a moderated roundtable event that included remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, global climate leaders highlighted the "boldest actions" on the Secretary-General’s “6 climate-positive actions”, which were launched on Earth Day.
SDG Action Zone: Planet
What do migrants’ access to healthcare during COVID-19, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocates, resilient food systems, urban mobility, and circular economies have in common? These and other diverse topics were unpacked during the second day of the SDG Action Zone, which focused on ‘the planet’. The main thread of our planet’s survival in the face of unsustainable practices by consumerist societies weaved through all sessions, with Nadira Hira, Master of Ceremony, opening the day and encouraging participants and the audience to “keep up the amazing energy” to drive the exponential change needed for the people and planet.
Coverage of Selected Side Events at the UN Summits Week 2020
The 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened with a gathering of world leaders from 23-29 September 2020. These leaders and other stakeholders participated in a series of summits, high-level meetings and side events.
SDG Action Zone: People
Tackling societal inequalities and committing to transformative change that helps everyone—including minorities and marginalized people—were major themes on the first day of the SDG Action Zone. With sessions on issues ranging from how to address systemic inequalities to how to protect jobs and bridge the digital divide, speakers set out the challenges and potential solutions for achieving the “people” part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The day concluded with forward-looking sessions on the future of leadership, society, and work. It ended with a passionate call for “parity” in order to create a healthy global society.
75th Anniversary of the UN The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism
The official commemoration of UN75, which took place at a socially distanced UN Headquarters, with Heads of State and Government joining virtually, focused on the theme of “The future we want, the United Nations we need: Reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism.” The meeting was addressed by 111 Heads of State and Government and 14 Ministers, who spoke in support of multilateralism and global solidarity, among other themes.
SDG Moment 2020
The SDG Moment was convened virtually by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to identify changes needed to recover better from COVID-19 and deliver the SDGs over the next decade. A “reality check” on progress on the SDGs was followed by a session on SDG gaps and plans, with interventions by 21 nominated Heads of State and Government. Contributions from stakeholders then addressed finance for the decade, climate solutions, and inequality.
Convention on Biological Diversity: Special Virtual Sessions
To maintain momentum ahead of the United Nations Biodiversity Summit on 30 September 2020 and COP 15 in 2021, the CBD convened a series of special virtual sessions. It began with bad news for global biodiversity. The launch of the fifth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, a final report card on progress against the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets adopted in 2010 with a 2020 deadline, starkly announced that none of the targets will be met.
Intersessional Work of the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference
Following more than a decade of discussions convened under the United Nations General Assembly, the Assembly, in resolution 72/249 of 24 December 2017, decided to convene an IGC on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction with a view to developing a legally binding instrument as soon as possible.