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 which in 2024 included the Summit of the Future.
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
High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance: 26 September 2024
26 Sep
2024
12:47
Executive Secretary of INC on Plastic Pollution at SDG Lounge session “Leading by Design”
On 25 September, Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution, participated in the session “Leading by Design” at the SDG Lounge. Focusing on sustainable lifestyles, the session explored how fashion and lifestyle industries can be key drivers of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at global, regional, and local levels.
The event of the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network, hosted by the UN Office for Partnerships, brought together industry leaders, media, governments, and UN entities to champion transparent, inclusive, and transformative action. In the context of the Summit of the Future and the High-Level Week, the mission is clear: to turn the immense influence of the fashion and lifestyle sectors into a force for positive change, ensuring prosperity while protecting the planet.
25 Sep
2024
16:21
Green Jobs for Youth Pact at Summit of the Future: A global call to action
At the Summit of the Future, the Green Jobs for Youth Pact emphasized the importance of consulting with youth, removing barriers to their meaningful engagement, and fostering inter-generational dialogue, all in support of the broader UN goal to ensure that youth have a seat at the table in national policy-making and decision-making processes. The Pact ensured meaningful youth participation through two dialogues:
The first event, the "Youth Forum on the Future of the Environment," co-organized by the Children and Youth Major Group (CYMG) to UNEP, focused on the transformative potential of green jobs for young people. The event featured key speakers who shared their insights, including UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, UNEA-7 President Abdullah Bin Ali Al Amri and Maria Ivanova from Northeastern University.
The second dialogue, a side event on "Empowering Youth for Sustainable Futures: Intergenerational Responsibility and Skills for a Just Transition," further elaborated on the role of the Green Jobs for Youth Pact in advancing a just transition to sustainable, circular, and inclusive economies. The event amplified the voices of youth, member states, education partners, the private sector, and UN agencies committed to working for a better future. For more information on efforts to promote green skills, watch India's Mission Life Video shown at the event during the talk by Secretary Leena Nandan of India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
25 Sep
2024
15:23
A global platform for youth engagement and policymaking with the UN: International Youth Conference 10
The International Youth Conference 10 (IYC10) is set to take place from 26 - 29 September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly session and the Summit of the Future. Titled “Informal Youth Summit of the Future,” the conference aims to provide a platform for young people, especially those from the Global South who lack access to the UN, to engage in critical conversations and knowledge exchange surrounding the Summit of the Future.
IYC’s mission is to empower young people to engage with global issues and challenges, fostering their voices and actions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By creating an inclusive platform for education, dialogue, and collaboration, IYC seeks to inspire and equip youth to become proactive agents of change in their communities and the world. IYC creates a bridge between youth and the United Nations, ensuring that young voices resonate and leave an imprint within UN corridors.
