Three Events Not to Miss During UNGA 76
Photo: Flickr/Patrick Gruban
The 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 76), the UN’s most important policy-making organ, opens tomorrow here in New York City and runs until the end of the month. Sustainable, equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to be top of the agenda as world leaders convene to discuss the most pressing issues facing our planet.
All meetings of the UNGA are streamed for free online at UN Web TV, including the General Debate featuring all 193 UN member states, but with an overwhelming number of meetings and side events it can be hard to know where to start. We’re here to help! Read on for three exciting opportunities to participate in UNGA 76 that we encourage you to check out.
September 20-26 | Climate Week NYC
Photo: Unsplash
Climate Week NYC runs alongside the UNGA each year and provides a forum for government and business leaders to catalyze climate action and assess global progress. Hosted by the non-profit coalition Climate Group in partnership with the UN and the City of New York, the week will focus on gearing up for COP26, which is due to take place in Glasgow, Scotland in November.
Like last year, the event is virtual and open to all. The opening ceremony on September 20 will feature speakers including former US Vice President Al Gore and Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. The events program, split into 10 themes, provides countless opportunities for the public to engage with Climate Week—in 2020 there were over 500 events around the world!
September 22-24 | SDG Action Zone
Photo: UN Women/Amanda Voisard
The SDG Action Zone is a collaborative space held annually during the UNGA that aims to accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals while providing the public with a transparent look into the UNGA. Originally a physical space inside the UN grounds with exhibits and events designed to inspire action on the SDGs, the Action Zone moved into a virtual format during the pandemic last year and will once again be online.
Each of the Action Zone’s three days has a different theme: poverty and inequalities, gender, and climate. The long list of esteemed speakers includes Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Program (UNEP); Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA); and Amina J. Mohammed, the UN Deputy Secretary-General. Participants have the opportunity to submit questions to speakers, which are later used as the basis for an “Ask Away” Q&A session at the end of each day’s program.
September 23 | UN Food Systems Summit
Photo: Unsplash
The success of every single SDG is dependent to some degree on food systems, but especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic these are in a debilitated state in many places around the world. With this in mind, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will convene the first-ever UN Food Systems Summit during this year’s UNGA. Scientists, business leaders, farmers, and academics are all among the key stakeholders that will come together to discuss how to transform our food systems for a better, more equitable world.
The Summit is a “People’s Summit,” meaning that public engagement and awareness are important priorities. All events are open to everyone, and a dedicated Summit Community provides a platform for online discussion between participants and stakeholders. In addition, anyone can sign up to be a Food Systems Hero and commit to promoting food system transformation in their communities and beyond.
For more context on the UN’s work on food and agriculture, as well as on food systems here in New York City, don’t forget to catch up on UNA-NYC’s Summer Series. Our series of four events in June and July included speakers from all three of the UN’s food and agriculture agencies (FAO, WFP, and IFAD) and is a great opportunity to prepare for the Food Systems Summit. Watch any of the events here.