Spotlight on the UN General Assembly

#UNGA sign at entrance of UN

Live blog of world leaders' week at the United Nations, New York - covering the General Assembly and other happenings in and around headquarters

18 Sep 2023 - 17:11
Secretary-General António Guterres and Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed

UN Chief António Guterres (left) and his Deputy Amina Mohammed share a light-hearted moment before the action-packed General Assembly week kicks into gear.

18 Sep 2023 - 16:44
18 Sep 2023 - 16:38

This village may get washed away!

Watching as your home, your favourite football field or even your deceased loved ones wash out to sea is the reality facing the residents of Monkey River, Belize.In this video, we explore the dangers of coastal erosion and how it is affecting a small village in the Belize. Coastal erosion is caused by the rising sea levels and is quickly destroying the homes and wildlife of this village. If we don't start to take action soon, this village could be wiped off the map!
18 Sep 2023 - 16:14
Ian Phillips and Sarah Steinberg

Ian Phillips (left) discusses global trends and the gender gap in STEM as well as opportunities to advance women’s representation and leadership in these domains with Sarah Steinberg (right), Head of Global Public Policy Partnerships for LinkedIn.

18 Sep 2023 - 16:09

With so many leaders in the room, she was the only youth representative. "Today, it's only me standing in front of you. I have big shoes to fill as I remind you again of the many promises you have made, and keep you accountable for your actions—and inactions." Hear directly from Mayada Adil of Sudan, a Youth Advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals."

18 Sep 2023 - 15:51

Transitioning to renewable energy is the key to securing humanity’s survival, as “without renewables, there can be no future”, according to UN chief António Guterres.

Renewable technologies like wind and solar power are, in most cases, cheaper than the fossil fuels that are driving climate change. The world needs to prioritize the transformation of energy systems to renewable energy.

The Climate Ambition Summit, scheduled for 20 September at the UN, will consider how to accelerate this transformation.

Find out five ways that acceleration could happen here.

18 Sep 2023 - 15:47

As is the case on most days, global crises are being discussed in meeting halls throughout UN headquarters. The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which is causing a cascade of humanitarian problems in neighbouring countries, was one of them. On Monday, Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohamed pledged the UN's support for Chad, where hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees have fled.

18 Sep 2023 - 15:32
18 Sep 2023 - 15:18

Views from UNTV control room and UN photographers in the General Assembly Hall for the coverage.

18 Sep 2023 - 15:14
delegates

Representatives of the UN's 193 member states meet in advance of the General Debate to discuss advancing progress on delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.

18 Sep 2023 - 14:57
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, South Korean girl group BLACKPINK and US actor Forest Whitaker

What do Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, South Korean girl group BLACKPINK and US actor Forest Whitaker have in common?

They are all SDG Advocates - public figures dedicated to peace, prosperity and the planet, rallying behind the vision of a better world and inspiring others to do the same. Learn more 

18 Sep 2023 - 14:44

Should the United Nations do more to address humanitarian emergencies? UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric explains why relief operations are stretched to the breaking point—and the one clear fix to help them save more lives.

18 Sep 2023 - 14:29

Alphabet soup? We created it! UN staff and delegates are famous for using unwieldy acronyms. You can spot newcomers to the organization by their perplexed demeanour -- especially when hearing a few in the same sentence. Our wordsmith colleagues in DGACM (look it up here) try to keep a lid on it, with its handy up to date editorial manual of officially recognized abbreviations and acronyms in UN documents. Want to guess the meaning of UNMISS? Or SIDS? The first is the 'United Nations Mission in South Sudan;' the second: 'Small Island Developing States.' See this GIF for a further taste.

18 Sep 2023 - 14:19

UN Private Sector Forum

UN Global Compact launches the Forward Faster initiative of the UN Global Compact at the Private Sector Forum with the UN Secretary-General and a range of Heads of State and Government, CEOs, UN Officials and other leaders.

Over 130 companies have already joined the new UN Global Compact Forward Faster initiative to accelerate private sector progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

18 Sep 2023 - 14:12

Environmental champion hails rivers as ‘arteries of our planet’

Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh traded the ocean for New York State’s Hudson River, declaring at the end of his epic 517-kilometre journey downriver last week that “we can never become complacent when it comes to protecting the environment”.

Watch his call to leaders to step up efforts to protect and preserve the world’s waterways.

18 Sep 2023 - 14:03
18 Sep 2023 - 13:56

A United Nations security officer stands at the ready during the Secretary-General's bilateral meetings during the General Assembly High-level week. /UN Photo/Manuel Elías

18 Sep 2023 - 13:45
food waste

It’s lunchtime!

If we could save one fourth of the food currently lost or wasted, we could feed 870 million hungry people worldwide. Learn what you can do

18 Sep 2023 - 13:24

Media in action

More than 3,000 journalists from around the world are expected to cover UNGA 78. Television tents are set up near the Rose Garden of the UN headquarters complex during the week of the General Assembly’s annual general debate and associated high-level meetings.

A gift from All-America Rose Sections, Inc., the garden has over 1,500 rose bushes, each carefully named for places and people from around the world. Expert UN gardeners ensure they bloom year-round.

The garden is open to the public and is located off the Visitor’s Concourse, behind the GA Building.

18 Sep 2023 - 13:04

How the UN SDG Summit aims to transform the world

woman in sunflower field

The SDG Summit plans to get the world back on track towards a greener, cleaner, safer, fairer future for all. Here's how