Climate Ambition Summit - Zuzana Čaputová, President of Slovakia, told the gathering that 85% of Slovakia's electricity is now from renewable sources and this will soon reach 90%. We are all in this climate crisis together, government, private sector and other stakeholders. We have an existential crisis that we created and we alone must solve

Malta Prime Minister Robert Abela in the Security Council: "We cannot resign ourselves to living in a world where might is right. We cannot give up on peace. Only through multilateralism can we address the challenges of the day, from climate to attacks on democracy."

At the Climate Ambition Summit - Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said we are committing self-harm on a planetary scale. He further said that we feel let down by the backtracking of countries such as the UK but cities give us hope and London is a leader. He reminded the audience that the time for action is now and stated London will be net zero by the end of this decade, cities can be "climate titans". He called participants to get on board or get behind as we race to a greener age.

Happening now at the Climate Ambition Summit
President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen announces an additional 220 million Euros for tackling climate change between 2023 to 2026 including another 160 million Euros for the Green Climate Fund. "We cannot buy our way out of the climate crisis - we must achieve net zero and decarbonize...we must act now and act in solidarity".

Switzerland President Alain Berset in the Security Council: "The times we live in are marked by the questioning of multilateralism, the multiplication of conflicts, and the deepening of inequalities…Where does our shared responsibility lie? At the very minimum it is to recall the very principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter… This core text expresses the shared desire of all peoples to live in peace."

Happening now at the Climate Ambition Summit https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-ambition-summit
President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen announces an additional 220 million Euros for tackling climate change between 2023 to 2026 including another 160 million Euros for the Green Climate Fund. "We cannot buy our way out of the climate crisis - we must achieve net zero and decarbonize...we must act now and act in solidarity".

Meanwhile from Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados at the Climate Ambition Summit "I hope that in the same way we can take Ukraine seriously in the Security Council, we can take the climate crisis seriously and the financing needs for it in the Security Council. This is as much a threat. In fact, it is a greater threat because more lives are at stake globally than are at stake in Ukraine. And I have nothing against Ukraine. In fact, I hope that the people of Ukraine receive all the support that they need, but I know that the people of the world need the support and without the urgent intervention, to settle the financing framework, we are not going to reach there."

Ghana President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, speaking in the Security Council moments after addressing the General Assembly, said: "Together we can still mitigate the challenges of the unknown by reforming global institutions to reflect the present realities of our world."

Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso Mendoza in the Security Council: "There is not one UN Charter for the South and another for the North, or one for the West and another for the East. The Charter is one and indivisible. In no case is the use of force to be used against the territorial integrity or political independence of a state, or to be used in any way that runs counter to the purposes of the United Nations."

The President of the Security Council, Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama: "We may have different views on how to put an end to this war, but how possibly we can have different views on who is the aggressor and who is the aggressed?"

In the Security Council, Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, tells Russia's representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, to "go back and read Tolstoy". "Who could imagine that in the third decade of the twenty first century that a permanent member of the Security Council would launch a war of aggression".

Ukraine President Zelenskyy to the Council: "Ukrainian soldiers are now doing with their blood what the UN Security Council should do with their votes: stopping aggression and defending the principles of the UN Charter."

Secretary-General speaking to the Council on war in Ukraine: “This war is already causing limitless suffering. Its continuation risks further perilous escalation. There is no alternative to dialogue, diplomacy, and a just peace."

Also at UNHQ today, world leaders committed to greater collaboration, governance and investment to prevent, prepare for and respond to future pandemics.

We welcome Heads of State approval of the historic #UNGA declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

My thanks to @UN_PGA Dennis Francis for his leadership and support. pic.twitter.com/PZSd1DZcXz

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) September 20, 2023

Ukraine President Zelenskyy to the Council: "Russia occupies this seat illegally. There is whitewashing of the genocide and aggression by Russia, while a small nation bravely defends its independence. Years of discussion on UN reform must be translated into viable process. The use of veto power must be reformed. In cases of mass atrocities, veto power should be voluntarily suspended, and if not, the General Assembly should be empowered to suspend the veto power."

Heated exchange at the top of the meeting with this retort from the President of the Council.

As the meeting begins, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Vasily Nebenzya objected to the list of who was allowed to speak, as well as the order of speakers. "On what basis has he been given the floor?" referring to Ukraine President Zelenskyy.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, Edi Rama, in his capacity as President of the Security Council rebuffs and says there is opportunity for Council Members to respond to Zelenskyy's remarks.

"There is a solution. You stop the war and President Zelenskyy will not take the floor."

Raising a point of order, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia asked on what basis the Security Council is deciding to give the floor to the President of Ukraine before Council members.

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) September 20, 2023

Gavin Newsom, Governor of California said he is coming from a state of dreamers and doers. California is the first State to set a completely 0% zero fuel emissions target. A State that is choking up with wildfires. This Climate Crisis is a fossil fuel crisis. And we need to call that out. The oil industry has been playing each and everyone of us for fools. Thanked the Secretary-General for using his moral authority

Delegates are arriving at the UN Security Council ahead of an open debate on the situation in Ukraine.

We are covering the meeting live, as it happens, right here. For highlights, follow UN News on social media or visit our tireless colleagues at UN Meetings Coverage who are summarizing the entire day-long meeting, in English and French.

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They are invaluable to world leaders seeking to hammer out agreements.

"the General Assembly is the summit of it all"

Said Sergey Kochetkov, chief of @UN interpretation services in preparation for #UNGA78 @UNDGACM_EN pic.twitter.com/OvH2XtOGqY

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) September 16, 2023