Climate change is the defining issue of our time. Tackling it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society. To accelerate action, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will host the 2019 Climate Action Summit on 23 September. The Summit will showcase a leap in collective political ambition and massive movements in the real economy in support of the agenda. This will inject momentum in the “race to the top” among countries, companies, cities and civil society, needed to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.

This seminar takes place in Ankara, Turkey from 11-12 September, and brings together diplomats, journalists, media experts and youth representatives from Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Europe, United States and other parts of the world.

On 13 September, under the theme “Empowering and Transforming Humanity,” the UN marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. The high-level forum, organized by the President of the 73rd session of the General Assembly, focuses on increasing the chances of a sustainable pathway to a culture of peace to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The Culture of Peace is seen as a process of individual, collective and institutional transformation. The Declaration, considered one of the most significant legacies of the UN, is a universal and historic norm-setting document

The 2019 Global Sustainable Development Report (to be launched September 11) is a UN comprehensive publication aiming to strengthen the science-policy interface, and to provide political guidance on the eradication of poverty and on sustainable development at the international level. As a strong scientific, evidence-based instrument authored by independent scientists, this report plays a significant role in the follow-up to the 2030 Agenda. The report aims to help support policymakers at high-level forums including the Sustainable Development Goals Summit (24-25 Sept).

The 68th Civil Society Conference: "Building Inclusive and Sustainable Cities and Communities" came to a succcesful close on August 28. The UN Secretary-General welcomed the focus of this year’s conference, noting that cities are well placed to help combat the global climate emergency and point the way towards sustainable, low-emission development. The Outcome Statement and Youth Climate Compact are vailable online. #UNCSC2019

This regional climate week in Bangkok, Thailand, aims to foster engagement between key players with a goal of addressing the climate emergency, and an opportunity for discussions from an Asian Pacific perspective. Register here.

Decisions taken at the 18th meeting (CITES CoP18, Geneva, 17-28 August) will have an immediate effect on the legislation, regulation, and operating practices for international trade in species listed on the CITES Appendices.