Programme
SDG Media Zone @UNGA81
Monday 21 September Watch Live
Welcome to the SDG Media Zone
10:30 - 10:45 EDT
A special welcome to the opening of the SDG Media Zone bythe UN Secretary-General (video statement), followed by a dedicated message of hope from Israa, the subject a new documentary film by FRONTLINE PBS. Introduced by Under Secretary-General of the Department of Global Communications Melissa Fleming.
- António Guterres, UN Secretary General (video statement)
- Melissa Fleming, UN Under Secretary-General, Department of Global Communications
UN Peace Circle
10:45 - 11:45 EDT
To mark the International Day of Peace (21 September), the United Nations will host an intergenerational Peace Circle that brings together youth peace advocates and their allies for a solutions-based conversation around “how might we invest in peace - for everyone, everywhere, every day.” Peace Circles are part of the UN’s youth-centred Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World campaign. It champions the inclusion of, investment in, and partnership with youth in building peace and feeds into the UN Secretary-General forthcoming independent progress study on how youth contribute to peace, mandated by the Pact for the Future.
Moderator: Versha Sharma, Award-winning Journalist, Former Editor, Teen Vogue
Speakers:
- Mary Maker, Goodwill Ambassador, UN Refugee Agency
- Sanjana Sanghi, India Youth Champion, UN Development Programme
- Muzoon Almellehan, Goodwill Ambassador, UNICEF
- Jonathan Lam, UN International Representative, Migration Youth and Children Platform
- Sofia Polishchuk, Director, The Children of Ukraine Foundation
- Noor Al Musallam, Youth Representative, World Scouting
- Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General, Global Communications
- Diene Keita, Executive Director, UN Population Fund
- Maher Nasser, Director, Outreach Division, UN Department of Global Communications
UN System Data Commons: Trusted Data in the Age of AI
12:30 - 12:50 EDT
AI is transforming how people find and use information. As access to knowledge expands, the ability to identify and verify trusted sources becomes increasingly important. The UN system holds a vast wealth of authoritative public data, and as part of the UN80 reforms, the UN System Data Commons will provide a single, modern entry point for public data and statistics from across the UN system. It will reduce analysis time for policymakers, journalists, researchers and other users, while making UN system data AI-ready so that digital tools can generate answers grounded in authoritative, traceable evidence. Join us to explore the opportunities of this new global information infrastructure.
Moderator: Eseohe Arhebamen-Yamasaki, Head of Communications, Springer Nature
Speaker:
- Prem Ramaswami, Head of Data Commons, Google
- João Pedro Azevedo, Chief Statistician, UNICEF
- Talea von Lupin, Portfolio Manager & Strategy Lead, UN Global Pulse, EOSG
Human Agency in the Age of AI: Rights, Trust and the Digital Future
13:00 - 13:15 EDT
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly present in children’s lives, from educational tools and toys to chatbots and AI companions, creating new opportunities while raising important questions about safety, development and well-being. In conversation with the media, actor, filmmaker and UN Global Advocate Joseph Gordon-Levitt will explore how AI can be designed and governed with children’s best interests at its core. The discussion will consider the responsibilities of technology companies, governments and families, and how safeguards, transparency and accountability can help ensure that AI supports children’s learning, creativity and development without exploiting their attention, trust or vulnerability.
Moderator: Kate Taylor, WIRED
Speaker:
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Actor, Filmmaker and Creative Entrepreneur; United Nations Global Advocate for Human-centric Digital Governance
Human Rights in Conflict: Protecting People, Preserving Dignity
13:30 - 13:50 EDT
As conflicts multiply around the world, civilians continue to bear the devastating human cost of war. This panel will examine what it takes to protect human rights and preserve human dignity amid the realities of modern conflict, exploring the challenges of preventing violations, protecting children and other vulnerable communities, safeguarding those documenting crises, and ensuring the timely delivery of essential humanitarian assistance. Speakers will consider what governments, international organizations, humanitarian actors, and others can do to strengthen civilian protection and uphold international human rights.
Moderator: Kristen Saloomey, Al Jazeera New York based Correspondent
Speakers:
- Mohamad Alasmar, Save the Children UN Representative
- Gypsy Guillen Kaiser, Chief Global Affairs Officer, Committee to Protect Journalists
Aiming Higher With and for Refugees
14:00 - 14:20 EDT
Education transforms lives. It provides the skills, credentials, and networks that underpin economic participation, social cohesion, and long-term self-reliance. Expanding access to higher education is one of the most powerful investments that we can make collectively not only for refugees but also for the communities and countries that host them. Today millions of refugee children remain out of school, with participation falling sharply after primary education. UNHCR GWA Mary Maker, global advocate for refugee education and founder of Elimisha Kakuma, an organization connecting refugees to education opportunities, and UNHCR High Commissioner Salih will engage in a timely discussion about how the world must bolster access to education for refugees, and achieve SDG 4 for all, to reduce dependency and support refugee self-reliance.
Moderator: Ephrem Kossaify, United Nations resident correspondent, Arab News
Speakers:
- Mary Maker, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
- Barham Salih, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Women Peacekeepers: The Power to Empower
14:30 - 14:50 EDT
Women are deployed as police, military and civilian personnel within UN peacekeeping missions. They work across all areas, from the protection of civilians to political and civil affairs, human rights, planning, logistics, and communications. And they serve as role models for all segments of society. The three panelists will share their peacekeeping experiences and stress that more diverse and inclusive teams means more effective peacekeeping. Women peacekeepers often have greater access to communities and inspire local women to participate in peace and political processes.
Moderator: Yoshita Singh, UN Correspondent of the Press Trust of India
Speakers:
- Lt Col Glory Mkwizu, Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Office of Military Affairs, OMA/DPO
- Gissel Sosa, Chief of the Mission Management and Support Section (MMSS) in the UN Police Division
- McCall Carter, Judicial Affairs Officer with the Justice and Corrections Service of the Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations
Technology Acceleration: A New Era of UN System Impact
15:00 - 15:20 EDT
Technology is advancing faster than any institution can respond alone. And teams in development and humanitarian work face common challenges, such as effectively reaching people in need, finding specialized expertise or improving operations. Technology-enabled solutions can either deepen existing silos or help overcome them. Through the UN80 reform, the UN system sized the moment and came together to build a new Technology Accelerator Platform: a space to understand needs, pool capabilities and build shared, reusable solutions. This session will show initial success stories of joint action and show the way how UN entities can build together with partners, demonstrating what technology collaboration can mean for a more effective UN system and better outcomes for the people we serve.
Moderator: Julians Amboko, Business Editor, Nation Media Group
Speakers:
- Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG)
- Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
- Justin Spelhaug, President, Microsoft Elevate
TERRESTRIALS UNITED: Limited Edition Wearable Art Campaign Video Premiere (UN Human Rights x Jamie Hewlett, co-creator Gorillaz)
15:30 - 15:35 EDT
Tune in for the premiere of a special transmission from TERRESTRIALS UNITED—an independent creative initiative supporting UN Human Rights and the global movement against hate, both online and offline. For this campaign, visual genius and Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett has created exclusive original artwork, transforming wearable art into a powerful global movement. His message: Terrestrials United: One Planet. One Human Team. Whatever divides us on Earth, we all look up at the same stars.
Introduced by: Robert Skinner, Deputy Director and Chief of Partnerships and Global Engagement, Outreach Division, UN Department of Global Communications
Strait of Hormuz: Navigating Disruption through Multilateral Cooperation
16:00 - 16:20 EDT
Disruption to trade through the Strait of Hormuz is placing livelihoods, supply chains and access to essential commodities under increasing pressure. It has led to a global energy and fertilizer crisis, with cascading impacts on food security, with the heaviest burden on fragile countries and the poorest households. In this conversation, panelists will elaborate on how multilateral cooperation can reduce these risks and prevent a humanitarian crisis, including through confidence-building measures such as an Operational Mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz.
Moderator: Mr Hashem Ahelbarra, Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera
Speaker:
- Jorge Moreira da Silva, Undersecretary General & UNOPS Executive Director, Coordinator of the UN Task Force on the Strait of Hormuz
- Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization
Tuesday 22 September Watch Live
Delivering the Promise of the SDGs Together
10:30 - 10:50 EDT
At a time of growing geopolitical tensions, widening inequalities and mounting climate impacts, confidence in international cooperation is under pressure. Yet global challenges continue to demand collective solutions.
Against the backdrop of the UN General Assembly theme, "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All," this conversation will explore how multilateralism can respond to today's realities and deliver tangible results for people.
Featuring the Director-General for Global Alliances, European Union and Economic Cooperation, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Federal Republic of Germany; the Director General for Development and Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italian Republic; and the Global Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign, the conversation will highlight how renewed multilateralism and partnerships can deliver tangible results for communities (with concrete in-country examples) and how important it is to inspire collective action.
Moderator: Ines Pohl, White House Correspondent, DW
Speakers:
- Dr. Katharina Stasch, Director-General for Global Alliances, European Union and Economic Cooperation at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Federal Republic of Germany
- Stefano Gatti, Director General for Development and Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italian Republic
- Marina Ponti, Global Director, UN SDG Action Campaign
Youth Powering Africa's Climate Future
11:00 - 11:20 EDT
2026 is the African Union's Year of Water and Sanitation, placing water security at the center of the continent's climate and development agenda. Young Africans are already building climate solutions; in water, energy, agriculture, and sustainable innovation — and in doing so, they're creating a new kind of economy. Climate innovation isn't separate from the jobs conversation; it's becoming one of the continent's biggest sources of new work. This panel brings together young innovators and youth leadership from the UN and AU to share what's actually being built on the ground, and what it will take to turn that innovation into lasting, scalable employment.
Moderator: Monicah W. Ndung'u, Chief of Corporate Affairs, Marketing & Partnerships Office, Nation Media Group
Speakers:
- Ahunna Eziakonwa, Under Secretary-General and Special Advisor on Africa
- Reanne Olivier, CEO Africa Matters Initiative
- Dialla Moumouni, President, Pan African Youth Union
Early Warnings, Early Action: How Media Carries Risk Information to the Last Mile
11:30 - 11:50 EDT
As disasters intensify under a strong El Niño, early warning systems save lives only if warnings reach people in time and are understood. This session brings together media representatives and a disaster risk reduction expert to explore how early warning information is reflected in journalists' own work — what gets amplified, what gets lost, and the role media plays in the "last mile" of risk communication. Panelists will share practical experience translating technical alerts into public understanding and discuss how newsrooms and the UN system can strengthen collaboration to advance the Early Warnings for All initiative, ensuring no one is left unwarned.
Moderator: Simon Bishop, Chief Executive Office, BBC Media Action
Speakers:
- Sujit Mohanty, Chief of Intergovernmental, Interagency cooperation and Partnerships Branch, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
- Khadija Maalej, Senior Project Manager, BBC Media Action North Africa
Securing Reliable Information in an AI-Driven World
12:00 - 12:20 EDT
As generative AI reshapes how information is created, consumed, and trusted, the digital commons are facing growing challenges of sustainability and exploitation. In this fireside conversation, Wikimedia Foundation CEO, Bernadette Meehan, and Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Department of Global Communication, Melissa Fleming will discuss the crisis of content reuse: what happens when AI systems and platforms extract value from open knowledge sources like Wikipedia and the United Nations without reciprocal support? What does this mean for information integrity worldwide? And what can the UN, governments, civil society, and platforms do to ensure reliable information doesn't become a luxury for a few, but remains available to all? Drawing on their vantage points at Wikimedia and the UN, they'll explore the challenges that our information ecosystem is facing in the age of AI, and discuss some potential ways forward.
Moderator: Eseohe Arhebamen-Yamasaki, Head of Communications, Springer Nature
Speakers:
- Bernadette Meehan, CEO, Wikimedia Foundation
- Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications
Stories That Move Us: Protecting People, Nature and the Planet
12:30 - 13:00 EDT
Storytelling has the incredible power to make global challenges personal and bring audiences closer to the people and places at the heart of the climate and biodiversity crises. Through the story of Indigenous leader Juma Xipaia and the making of YANUNI, this conversation will explore storytelling's power and responsibility to amplify voices from the frontlines, build understanding, and inspire action. The speakers will discuss how intimate, human stories can connect audiences to complex environmental and human rights issues, challenge perceptions, and help turn awareness into meaningful action for people and the planet.
Moderator: Alice Aedy, filmmaker, co-founder & CEO of Earthrise Studio
Speaker:
- Juma Xipaia, Indigenous leader, environmental activist, and a Chief of the village of Xipaya people in Brazil’s Amazon
- Richard Ladkani, award-winning filmmaker and director of YANUNI
- Dax Dasilva, entrepreneur, tech leader, conservationist, film producer, and author
Hollywood Climate Summit: Comedy as Climate Strategy
13:00 - 13:20 EDT
Climate fatigue is real, and sometimes laughing is one of the most empowering ways to face hard things. This panel brings together voices from late-night television, stand-up, and sketch comedy to explore how humor cuts through the noise, speaks disarming truths through laughter, and makes climate conversations feel relatable with friends and family.
Moderator: Shel Winkley. Chief Meteorologist, Climate Central
Speakers:
- Nicole Conlan. Daily Show TV Writer, Climate Deniers Podcast, Colbert
- Stuart Goldsmith. Climate Comedian
Hollywood Climate Summit: Turning Followers Into Force Multipliers
13:30 - 14:00 EDT
Climate action doesn't have to compete with the things people already love, it can live inside them. This panel brings together four creators who've built massive, devoted audiences around cooking, music, science, and fashion, and found their way to climate storytelling through those doors instead of around them. They'll unpack what it actually takes to make climate feel like part of a life someone's already living, not a separate cause competing for their attention.
Moderator: Melissa Navia, actor (Star Trek, Strange New Worlds)
Speakers:
- Pedro Loos, science communicator and digital educator
- Hila the Earth, Eco-Rapper, Comedian and Content Creator
- Wisdom Kaye, Fashion Creative and Style Icon
- Alexis Nikole Nelson, Forager, Cook, and Author
Flipping the Script: The UN Spokesperson Asks the Questions
14:30 - 14:50 EDT
What happens when the UN spokesperson takes the questions and the correspondents take the answers? In this session, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, invites the UN Correspondents to reflect on their role in covering multilateralism, global affairs and the work of the United Nations. The panel will explore how journalists navigate the UN beat, what shapes their coverage, and how they see the evolving relationship between the UN and the current media landscape.
Moderator: Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General
Speakers:
- Gabriel Elizondo, Correspondent at Al Jazeera English
- Edith Lederer, Chief United Nations correspondent for the Associated Press
From Fear to Freedom: A Global Perspective, Potential Threats and Real Threats
15:00 - 15:20 EDT
As conflicts continue to leave millions at risk from landmines and explosive ordnance, this is a rare opportunity for global media to hear directly from leaders shaping the international response. The Director of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) offers a strategic global perspective and explains how mine action serves the Development Goals. Jody Williams, Chair of the Nobel Women’s Initiative and Ambassador for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), will talk about new threats to global security and the need to strengthen international humanitarian law, and UNMAS Mine Action Chief in the Occupied Palestinian Territory will describe in real-time the tonnes of unexploded bombs, projectiles, landmines and improvised devices that threaten human security and recovery in Gaza and the West Bank. Controlling the use of indiscriminate weapons and clearing explosive hazards is an essential precursor to implementing the 2030 Agenda.
Moderator: Henry Butler, Editorial Producer, Laura Coates Live at CNN
Speakers:
- Ms. Kazumi Ogawa, Director United Nations Mine Action Service
- Julius Dirk Van de Walt, Chief of the Mine Action Programme in the Occupied Territory of Palestine
- Jody Williams, founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, Nobel Peace Laureate 1997
The Leadership Gap: Can the SDGs be Achieved Without Women in Power?
15:30 pm - 15:50 EDT
Who leads shapes whose voices are heard, whose priorities are funded and whose rights are protected. Yet despite progress, women remain underrepresented in political leadership while facing growing barriers, including online abuse, disinformation and democratic backsliding. Drawing on the latest findings from the Gender Snapshot 2026, this conversation explores what the data tells us about the state of women's political participation, why inclusive leadership is essential to restoring public trust, and what governments, institutions and citizens can do to accelerate change. Bringing together global leadership, political experience and independent voices, the session examines why achieving the SDGs requires women equally represented wherever decisions are made.
Moderator: Khadija Maalej, Senior Project Manager, BBC Media Action North Africa
Speakers:
- Ms. Sarah Hendriks, Director of Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division (UN Women)
- Ms. Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
- Ms. Lesego Chombo, Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs of Botswana
Wednesday 23 September Watch Live
Too hot to ignore: Building Urban Resilience to Extreme Heat
10:30 - 10:50 EDT
Extreme heat is already a major global threat. An estimated 489,000 people die each year from heat-related causes worldwide. As cities become hotter and more vulnerable, proven solutions such as resilient buildings, urban greening, passive design and smarter planning can reduce temperatures, save lives and cut emissions.
This discussion, convened by UNEP, brings together an architect and a city leader to explore how these approaches can be scaled to create cooler, healthier, and more resilient cities. It will also highlight practical initiatives such as the Beat the Heat Implementation Drive. Together, these efforts demonstrate how cities can reduce heat risks, protect vulnerable populations, lower emissions, and build long-term climate resilience.
Moderator: Martina Donlon, Head of Strategic Impact and Innovation, UN Department of Global Communications
Speakers:
- Martin Krause, Director, Climate Change Division, UN Environment Programme
- H.E. Adalberto Maluf, Vice Minister for Environment and Climate Change of Brazil
From Evidence to Action: Making Climate and Biodiversity Change Visible
11:00 - 11:20 EDT
Climate change and biodiversity loss are vast, complex processes that often remain invisible in everyday life. Their consequences unfold across scales ranging from a single community to the entire planet, and from a human lifetime to millions of years. Although younger generations report high levels of concern, abstract knowledge does not reliably translate into sustained civic or behavioral action. In this panel, Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, Tanushah Ramadass, and Oscar-winning filmmaker Louie Psihoyos examine how evidence travels—from the rock record and natural history museums, through high-impact visual media, into public understanding and collective action. Lacovara brings the perspective of deep time, using fossils, strata, and past mass extinctions to reveal the consequences of planetary change. Psihoyos, Executive Director of the Oceanic Preservation Society and director of groundbreaking documentaries like The Cove and Racing Extinction, leverages powerful narrative storytelling and iconic global imagery to expose environmental crises and inspire immediate movement. Together, the speakers bridge deep history and contemporary visual advocacy to illuminate how scientific truth can move beyond abstract awareness and spark real-world transformation.
Moderator: Laura Geggel, Managing Editor, Live Science
Speakers:
- Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, Founding Executive Director of Edelman Fossil Park and Museum
- Louie Psihoyos, Academy Award-winning filmmaker and Executive Director of the Oceanic Preservation Society
- Tanushah Ramadass, Singaporean Youth Researcher, Program Coordinator for the ASEAN Women in Science Mentorship Program and former Regional Lead for SEA, Girl Up Campaign, United Nations Foundation
Local Action Powering Global Impact: Public Private Partnerships to Advance Progress on SDG 7
11:30 - 11:50 EDT
While significant progress has been made on SDG 7 in the last decade, achieving a more affordable and sustainable energy future for all remains under threat.
In some parts of the world, grid infrastructure is aging and outdated, while in other parts it is non-existent – both occurring against a background where global energy demand is climbing; extreme weather and other threats are knocking out power where communities can least afford it; and strained municipal budgets can't close the gap. However, the most durable answer is emerging where the global goals actually get implemented — at the community level.
Energy innovations, including bringing more flexible and distributed energy resources to the grid can be a triple win: lowering energy costs and increasing energy resilience while also contributing to reduced GHG emissions that cause climate change.
This conversation will showcase how public-private partnerships supporting SDG 7 can turn local resilience into a replicable global answer: one that is not only more sustainable, but more affordable and more secure.
Moderator: Elaine Reyes, News Anchor, UN Insider & Americas Now, CGTN America
Speakers:
- Kimberly Johnston, Founder and CEO of NextGen Energy
- Marc Pacheco, Former Massachusetts State Senator and current President and CEO of the Transatlantic Climate Alliance
- Dr. Wale Aboyade, Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations at Sun King
Reimagining Care: Disability, Family, and How We Shift Medical Culture
12:00 - 12:20 EDT
HOLDING MOSES follows a Broadway performer, whose world shifts when her son is born with profound disabilities, catalyzing a reimagining of what family, care, and belonging can look like. Oscar-shortlisted and streaming on The New Yorker, the film has become a tool for systemic change, reaching over 600 doctors-to-be, with plans to engage 7,500 more over the next 5 years. At the SDG Media Zone, disability advocates and clinical partners Dr. Jaya Aysola and Dr. Hannah Kakara Anderson join director Rivkah Beth Medow to explore how inclusive communication and design can advance human rights and improve healthcare outcomes.
Moderator: Flora Peir, News Editor, The 19th
Speakers:
- Dr. Jaya Aysola, Founding Executive Director of Penn Medicine's Center for Health Equity Advancement (CHEA) and Director of Research, Center of Public Health, and Associate Professor of Medicine and Associate Professor of Pediatrics
- Dr. Hannah Kakara Anderson, Education Scientist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania; Founder, Learning Design Collective
- Rivkah Beth Medow, Director of Holding Moses, Co-founder of Frankly Speaking Films
El Niño is Here: Time to Act
12:30 - 12:50 EDT
El Niño is here — and it is strengthening. On 3 September, WMO confirmed that El Niño is firmly established and expected to reach very strong intensity, with a near-100% likelihood of persisting through February 2027. It is already reshaping expectations for rainfall and temperature around the world, increasing risks of floods, drought and extreme heat. But El Niño does not mean the same impacts everywhere. Seasonal forecasts can give governments, businesses and communities months of advance warning to understand what is coming and act. This session will explore what the latest outlook means, how forecasts create value, and how new technologies are changing what we can anticipate.
Moderator: Bernadette Placky Woods, Chief meteorologist and Climate Matters director at Climate Central
Speakers:
- Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO
- Terry Thompson, Chief Scientist, Climate Centre of Excellence, S&P Global
- Tim Carroll, Global Weather & Climate Business Leader, NVIDIA
The Fashion Diplomacy: From Cultural Heritage to Economic Opportunity
13:00 - 13:20 EDT
Launch of Fashion Diplomacy as supported by the First Lady of Estonia.
The panel will explore how heritage and craft can become powerful tools for cultural connection, economic opportunity and international collaboration. Bringing together perspectives from diplomacy, cultural heritage and fashion, the conversation will examine how traditional knowledge can remain visible, valued and relevant while creating new opportunities for the people and communities behind it. The discussion will also consider how culture can open conversations across countries and how relationships built through those exchanges can lead to longer-term cooperation.
Special remarks: Sirje Karis, First Lady of Estonia
Moderator: Bella Webb, Vogue Business
Speakers:
- Jasmine Aarons, Founder of VOZ and Philanthropic Partnerships Officer at the Amazon Investor Coalition
- Marilin Tammsaar, Fashion Executive, Spouse of the Estonian Ambassador to the UN and Founder of Fashion Diplomacy
- Lydia Abela, First Lady of Malta
Fashion Upcycling Workshop
13:30 - 13:50 EDT
Kate McGuire will lead a visual conversion demonstration exploring the creative potential of redesign and the art of seeing clothes within clothes. Using a jacket and a jumpsuit as her canvas, she will show how simple, accessible alterations—using fabric reclaimed from other garments rather than newly produced material—can make the ordinary feel unique, personal and thrilling. The session will bring circular fashion to life, inviting audiences to reconsider the value of what they already own. Its central premise: the single most impactful action available to any of us is to wear existing garments for longer.
Workshop Lead
Kate McGuire, founder of Converted Closet, entrepreneur, and sustainable fashion advocate
How to Get People to Care
14:00 - 14:30 EDT
The Development sector has an attention and distribution problem. The sector produces more evidence, more strategy and more campaigns than at any point in its history, and reaches fewer people than a single creator with a phone. Creators, meanwhile, have never been more influential in shaping what people say, do and believe, at a scale and cost no institution can match. This session brings together a prominent black female creator in conversation with the founder and CEO of a pan-African organisation as they unpack how the development sector can use popular culture to make everyday people care.
Moderator: Dr. Okito Wedi, Founder & CEO Crtve Development
Speaker:
- Akunna Cook, Founder and CEO of Next Narrative Africa
Performer: Rouge, Rapper & Creative Director
Feminism and AI
14:30 - 14:50 EDT
Amid a growing global backlash against women’s rights and the weaponisation of technology to harm women and girls, the fight for gender equality is more urgent than ever. UN Women’s SDG Media Zone discussion, “AI and Feminism”, brings together advocates, experts, and global leaders to examine how artificial intelligence is fuelling a backlash against women and girls, while exploring its potential to help dismantle it. Speakers will discuss practical pathways forward, from survivor-centred approaches and platform accountability to stronger governance and safety-by-design. Technology should be a force for equality, not a weapon against it, and this conversation asks how.
Moderator: Aisha Becker-Burrowes, Co-Founder and Executive Director at FEMINIST
Speakers:
- Kalliopi Mingeirou, UN Women Chief, Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
- Jayathma Wickramanayake, Senior Advisor for Digital Cooperation, UN Women
Built This Way: Children, Youth and Information Integrity
15:00 - 15:20 EDT
The global information ecosystem is at a crisis point, and children and young people are among those most connected and most at risk. The harms they experience within our information ecosystem are not accidental. They are shaped by systems and business models designed to capture attention, harvest data and maximise engagement. Often at the expense of safety, wellbeing and trust. As AI accelerates these dynamics, young people are navigating an increasingly complex information environment while having too little say in how it is built. This event examines what it will take to make our information ecosystem safe and reliable for future generations, and why young people themselves must be part of building the solution.
Moderator: Charlotte Scaddan, Senior Adviser on Information Integrity, United Nations
Speakers:
- Ian Russell, MBE - Co-Founder, Molly Rose Foundation, Molly’s Dad
- Filipe Lopes, Counsellor, Brazilian Mission to the United Nations
- Natalie Shoup, Industry & Data Lead, Safe Online
The Kind of Leader the World Needs Now
15:30 - 16:30 EDT
To foster an intergenerational dialogue on the leadership qualities needed to strengthen multilateralism and enable the United Nations to respond effectively to today’s global challenges, while ensuring that young people’s aspirations help shape the future of international leadership.
This session will explore the qualities that tomorrow’s global leaders—and particularly the next generation of UN leadership—must embody to respond effectively to today’s interconnected challenges.
Building on the intergenerational dialogue held during the Candidates' Debate in Geneva, three distinguished international leaders—Helen Clark, Irina Bokova and Susana Malcorra, candidates in 2016 to be UNSG—will be joined by two students in a conversation that bridges experience and emerging perspectives.
The discussion will also draw on the "Ten Qualities for the Next UN Secretary-General," developed by students participating in the Her Turn Initiative following their engagement with global leaders. These reflections will serve as a starting point to discuss the values, skills and vision needed to lead both the United Nations and the international community in the years ahead.
Moderator: Karina Givargisoff, Founder, Mission Magazine
Speakers:
- Helen Clark, Co-founder of GWL Voices
- Irina Bokova, Co-founder of GWL Voices
- Susana Malcorra, President and co-founder of GWL Voices
- Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General for Operations, IOM
- Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, UN Women Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results
- Jocast Samuel, Her Turn youth programme
- Jenn Hernandez, Her Turn youth programme
Thursday 24 September Watch Live
From Invisible Majorities to Unstoppable Movements: What Can Climate Initiatives Learn?
11:00 - 11:20 EDT
What happens when people find out they are not alone in caring about climate change?
Roughly nine in ten people worldwide want stronger climate action, but many assume the people around them do not. Believing they’re alone in their views, they say little, unaware their neighbours feel exactly the same way.
In this session, Melissa Fleming is joined by inspirational leaders from causes such as #MeToo and BLM who have overcome similar pluralistic ignorance in the past, and grown mass movements as a result. Together, they discuss what worked for them in the past, and what climate movements can do to build public solidarity.
Moderator: Melissa Fleming, USG of the UN Department of Global Communications
Speakers:
- Evan Wolfson, Founder, Freedom to Marry
- Jeremy Heimans, Co-founder and Chairman, Purpose
Responding to Future Pandemics
11:40 AM - 12:00 EDT
Viruses, like COVID-19, do not respect borders. Five years after COVID-19 killed millions, shocked health systems, disrupted lives and drove the global economy to a virtual standstill, the world is trying to make sure it is better prepared for the next pandemic.
Recent Ebola, mpox, cholera and hantavirus outbreaks continue to demonstrate the need for sustained investment in preparedness and global health security. That is why one of the most prominent moments during this year's High-level Week will be the meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. It is hoped that leaders will come together to emphasize the importance of sustained investment, collaboration and preparedness to prevent and respond to future pandemics. Dr. Tedros will participate, alongside senior UN and Member State representatives.
The meeting is particularly timely given the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC - the largest seen in the country which has tragically killed more than 3,500 people.
Moderator: Samira Hussain, North America Business Correspondent, BBC News
Speaker:
- Tedros Adhanom, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO)
Cities Delivering Climate Action That Works for Everyone
12:00 - 12:20 EDT
Cities around the world are demonstrating what an inclusive and just transition looks like in practice, delivering climate action in urban areas that tackle inequalities and benefit communities with clean energy, safer transport, better housing, good green jobs, and economic opportunities.
In this session, city leaders will share inspiring examples of ambitious local action advancing SDGs. Examples include building the urban climate workforce of the future, ensuring urban data centres are sustainable and benefit local communities, creating new good green jobs, improving working conditions for informal waste workers, and ensuring frontline populations benefit from the phaseout of fossil fuels and rollout of renewable energy.
Moderator: Molly Taft, Senior climate writer, WIRED
Speakers:
- Eric Garcetti, former mayor of Los Angeles and Ambassador for Global Climate Diplomacy
- Anne Hidalgo, Former Mayor of Paris (2014-2026) and Global Ambassador for the Global Covenant of Mayors
- Camila Assis, General Coordinator for International Relations at São Paulo’s Municipal Secretariat for International Relations (SMRI)
Trusted Messengers: How Story Moves Communities Into Climate Action
12:30 - 12:50 EDT
This session makes the case for "trusted messengers" as a core methodology for climate progress: reaching specific communities through voices they already believe, using story over statistics to turn awareness into action. The panellists will draw on their own work mobilizing communities that climate messaging often misses, like athletes, creators, and mountain communities, then widen the lens so the panel argues why the broader climate and SDG community should treat this as a repeatable strategy rather than a nice-to-have. It will present a discussion and actionable takeaways for organizers and climate leaders.
Moderator: Kati Morton, licensed therapist, bestselling author, and mental health educator
Speakers:
- Graham Zimmerman, professional alpinist, award-winning author & filmmaker, Senior Director of the Athlete Alliance at Protect Our Winters (POW)
- Jamie Henn, climate activist and communicator, co-founder of 350.org and Clean Creatives, founder and executive director of Fossil Free Media
- Kristy Drutman, Co-CEO Green Jobs Board , Founder Browngirl Green, climate activist, environmental media producer, and social entrepreneur (
From Plants to People: Ethnobotany, Cultural Knowledge, and Food for Health
12:50 - 13:10 EDT
The event tells the story of how people around the world have developed deep relationships with plants, using them for food, health, and cultural continuity. Through a conversation between two ethnobotanists from different generations and career paths, the audience will explore how traditional knowledge, scientific research, and biodiversity intersect in addressing contemporary challenges such as nutrition, food security, public health, and cultural preservation.
The conversation then transitions into a hands-on sensory experience demonstrating how plant knowledge can be incorporated into daily life through tea and botanical infusions, making the topic tangible for both in-person and virtual audiences.
Moderator: Luis Calzadilla. Senior Director of External Relationships and Engagement, The New York Botanical Garden
Speakers:
- Michael Balick. Vice President for Botanical Science. Director of the Center for Plants, People and Culture, The New York Botanical Garden
- Selena Ahmed, Global Director of the Periodic Table of Food Initiative
Rethinking Food: From Plate to Planet
13:30 - 13:50 EDT
Food waste sits at the intersection of climate change, food security and sustainable consumption. While the scale of the challenge is well understood, there is increasing momentum behind practical solutions that are transforming how food is produced, distributed and consumed.
"Rethinking Food: From Plate to Planet" brings together leading voices from media, civil society and global advocacy to explore how different sectors are tackling food waste and driving meaningful change. Moving beyond awareness, the conversation will focus on the solutions already making an impact - from storytelling and consumer behaviour to food rescue initiatives and international collaboration - and the role each of us can play in creating a more sustainable food system.
Moderator: Chris Morocco, Food Director, Bon Appétit
Speaker:
- Evan Ehlers, Founder & CEO, Sharing Excess
- Tara Gallina, Co-Owner & Chief Experience Officer, Take Root Hospitality
Building the AI Economy: Local Innovation for Inclusive Growth
14:00 - 14:20 EDT
As AI reshapes economies, the real test is whether its benefits reach the communities most at risk of being left behind. This session brings together three perspectives on building an inclusive AI economy: UNDP's role as an ecosystem builder, expanding compute access, skills and enabling policy where AI is least available today; an African innovator whose data infrastructure is opening AI to the Global South; and Big Ocean, the world's first hard-of-hearing K-pop group, whose use of AI in performances shows inclusion in practice. Together they move digital inclusion from principle to lived reality.
Moderator: Teresa Mondría Terol, Manager, AI Products and Platforms, NPR
Speakers:
- Alexander De Croo, UNDP Administrator
- Kate Kallot, Founder & CEO, Amini
- Park Hyunjin, Kim Jiseok, and Lee Chanyeon, Members of Big Ocean K-Pop Group
AI and Human Rights: The Urgency of Collaboration over Competition
14:30 - 14:50 EDT
This town hall discussion brings together United Nations leaders, human rights advocates, technologists and civil society representatives to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the protection and realization of human rights.
Through concrete case studies, the conversation will; examine both the opportunities and challenges associated with AI including its potential to support efforts to monitor, detect, and prevent human rights violations, while addressing risks related to bias, discrimination, governance and accountability.
The discussion will build on the inaugural session of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, and the Global Digital Compact.
Moderator: Kate Taylor, WIRED
Speaker:
- Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Follow the Money: AI, Advertising and the Global Information Crisis
15:00 - 15:20 EDT
What if the biggest driver of today’s information crisis isn’t just what we can see and access, but who pays for it? Advertising funds much of the digital world, inadvertently enabling everything from trusted journalism to disinformation, hate speech and polarisation. As AI transforms how we find, consume and monetise information, it is also making the flow of advertising dollars harder to see. Free and pluralistic media are losing visibility, while automated systems increasingly decide where ads appear and what gets funded. This event asks a simple question: if money shapes the information ecosystem, how can advertisers use their influence to help shape what comes next?
Moderator: Liz Kneebone, Vice President, Community Programs & Development, ADWEEK
Speakers:
- Charlotte Scaddan, Senior Adviser on Information Integrity, United Nations
- Jake Dubbins, Co-Founder, Conscious Advertising Network
- Rupen Desai, Chief Marketing Officer, Una Terra
‘Cool Me Down’ EARTHGANG Track Launch
15:30 - 16:30 EDT
Music and popular culture can create emotional connections to global issues and reach audiences far beyond traditional policy spaces. This closing session will explore how cultural voices can position human health as an essential and unifying part of the climate agenda.
Featuring EARTHGANG and experts from the UN, UN Live and Wellcome Trust, the session will examine the links between extreme heat, climate and health, share the creative process behind a new Sounds Right track, and include its public premiere, with a possible acoustic performance.
Artist Fireside Chat
Moderator: Iminza, Museum for the United Nations - UN Live
Remarks by: Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition
Speakers:
- Dot (Eian Parker), EARTHGANG
- Olu (Johnny Venus), EARTHGANG
Panel session: One Degree of Separation – Why We’re All Closer to the Solution Than We Think
Moderator: Katja Iversen, Museum for the United Nations - UN Live
Speakers:
- Dr. Alan Dangour, Director of Climate and Health, Wellcome
- Dot (Eian Parker), EARTHGANG
- Olu (Johnny Venus), EARTHGANG
- Dr. Jazmine Alexander-Nicholson, Executive Director, EARTHGANG Foundation