Taking place on the sidelines of the High-level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals convened by the President of the General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft at UN Headquarters on 21 April, the discussion between Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Gass will kick off a series of intimate conversations with global leaders which will be featured in the Digital Media Zone, powered by the Pvblic Foundation.
Thomas Gass is passionate about bringing together the various international actors that can help make the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a reality. He will lead the conversation with Mr. Whitaker, who is the UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation and who was also announced one of the 17 SDGs Advocates by the Secretary-General earlier this year. The conversation will start at 10:30 am EDT and will be streamed live via DMZ News here.
“SDGs implementation has already begun, but more action is needed at all levels – national, regional and local,” explains Thomas Gass ahead of the event. “We need everyone on board for the benefit of all and to ensure that no one is left behind.”
Before joining Mr. Gass in the Digital Media Zone, Forest Whitaker will address the opening ceremony of the High-level Thematic Debate in the General Assembly Hall together with a number of high-level speakers including the Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson.The PGA event on 21 April will serve to accelerate implementation of the SDGs and harness the political momentum behind the goals. It will bring together global political, business and civil society leaders in New York to focus on kick-starting SDGs implementation.
Preceding the UN Paris Climate Agreement Signing Ceremony on 22 April, it will also be a unique opportunity to address the synergy between the COP21 outcome and the 2030 Agenda. Leaders will be offered a platform to announce action, discuss implementation and mobilize potential partners. Key focus areas will be: Action at all levels; Financing poverty eradication; Technology and data; Partnerships; and Climate action.
The PGA event will be streamed live via UN Web TV. To follow the discussion between Thomas Gass and Forest Whitaker in the Digital Media Zone on 21 April at 10:30 am New York time, tune in here http://dmz.news/live.