The United Nations Association of New York 2022 UN Day Humanitarian Awards Dinner
From left: UNA-NYC President Abid Qureshi; Mars outgoing CEO Grant F. Reid; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization; Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; UNA-NYC Executive Director Ann Nicol. | Photo: Melanie Zhang
On Tuesday, November 1st, the United Nations Association of New York held their annual UN Day Humanitarian of the Year Award Gala Dinner commemorating the 77th Anniversary of the United Nations. Held at the Metropolitan Club of New York City, this event marked the return of in-person Gala dinners.
This year’s honorees were selected for their extraordinary commitment and tireless dedication in leading the global fight against climate change, an ongoing international crisis that plagues all populations, while especially affecting those living in marginalized communities. World Trade Organization Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Mars Outgoing Chief Executive Officer Grant F. Reid; and singer-songwriter and UN Environmental Ambassador Ellie Goulding were all awarded.
In his opening remarks, UNA-NYC president Abid Qureshi acknowledged that “there is no place on this planet that is going to be immune” to the effects of climate change, as he introduced the evening’s keynote speaker, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a longtime advocate for food security.
“The food security crisis is a top priority for the Biden administration, but it needs to be a top priority for every government around the world, and it has to be a top priority for all of us. We’re determined to stamp out hunger, and we need your help,” Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said. Read more about the ambassador’s work to achieve universal food security here.
Singer-songwriter and Global Environmental Ambassador Ellie Goulding joined the celebration virtually to share her remarks. Aside from being a renowned artist, Goulding is known in the United Nations community for using her platform to spread awareness about environmental advocacy and to inspire her fans to engage in sustainable efforts. Goulding is currently slated to attend COP27, the UN Climate Change Conference, which is currently taking place in Egypt.
The World Trade Organization is sometimes criticized as trade is increasingly weaponized. However, the organization, led by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria, has worked toward dismantling this narrative through action. In her speech, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala provided a new perspective on how local trade can be used as a system to prevent climate change and work toward a greater good. By adopting the mentality that the multilateral trading system is all about people, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has been able to lead the WTO into new agreements that respect the environment.
Following Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s speech, Mars Outgoing CEO Grant F. Reid delivered his remarks on sustainability and the pioneering work that his company has been doing in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Mars, said Reid, is a company composed of “actionists,” not just activists. Reid announced that the company has a goal to reduce its “environmental impact in line with what science says is necessary, which means getting to net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the entire value chain.” Read the Mars Sustainability Plan here.
To end the evening, Master of Ceremonies Richard Lui interviewed this year’s four UNA-NYC Summer Scholars, who traveled to Istanbul, Timor-Leste, the Maldives, and Mongolia to engage in meaningful work with UNDP. All four scholars shared how their perspectives were changed through their incredible hands-on experiences and expressed their gratitude to the programme.
The UNA-NYC Board of Directors and staff give special thanks to all honorees, partners, guests, and volunteers for their support and participation in another outstanding Gala Dinner. After such an inspiring event, the hope remains that individuals and systems will continue to work toward combating climate change in all forms. At UNA-NYC, we are overjoyed to be returning to in-person events, and we look forward to next year’s Gala dinner!
All Photography: MelanieQuinnPhotography.com
