During the UN General Assembly high-level week, from 21 to 27 September, world leaders will gather at the Organization's headquarters to signal how they will boost action to respond to the climate emergency and ensure the health and wellbeing of people, everywhere. Four years after breakthrough international agreements on climate change and sustainable development, the stakes are high: 

  • We are not yet on track to end poverty by 2030 and world hunger is on the rise, with some 821 million people experiencing undernutrition in 2017. 
  • Green-house gases continue to climb. Every bit of warming matters and every day we delay action will make it more difficult to limit global warming to 1.5°C and avert the worst impacts of climate change. 
  • The world's most vulnerable are bearing the brunt of conflict, inequality, injustice and environmental degradation – 70 million people fled war, persecution and conflict in 2018; at least half the world's population do not have access to essential health services; and some 29.3% of the population of small island states live at less than five meters above rising sea-levels.

Action is being taken to address these challenges. Investment in inclusive and sustainable economies can unleash significant opportunities for shared prosperity. Political, technological and financial solutions are within our reach. But much greater leadership and rapid, unprecedented changes are needed to realize the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. .

Bringing together leaders from governments, private sector, civil society and international organizations — the high level week will help generate the ambition and the impetus needed to kickstart a decade of ambitious action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

17 Events to Follow During the General Assembly High-level Week

1. 21 September | UN Youth Climate Summit 
2. 21 to 27 September | Jeppe Hein's 'Breathe with me' Participatory Installation
3. 22 September | Walk the Talk NYC: The Health for All Challenge
4. 22 September | Social Good Summit
5. 22 to 27 September | Global Week to Act for SDGs
6. 23 September | UN Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit
7. 23 September | High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage 
8. 23 September | Private Sector Forum
9. 23 to 29 September | Climate Week NYC
10. 24 to 25 September | SDG Summit
11. 25 September | High-level Commemorative Event on the 30th Anniversary of the UN Convention on Rights of the Child
12. 25 September | SDG Business Forum
13. 25 to 26 September | UN Solutions Summit
14. 26 September | High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development
15. 27 September | High-level Mid-term Review of the Samoa Pathway
16. 21 to 27 September | SDG Media Zone at UNGA74
17. 28 September | Global Citizen Festival NYC

Read more about the events and featured stories here.