GOAL OF THE MONTH – Special Edition
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Where We Are
The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly marks a critical milestone in the global effort to accelerate progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A decade after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, millions of lives have improved through gains in health, education, energy, and digital connectivity. However, only 35 per cent of the targets are on track or making moderate progress and 18 per cent have regressed. The final five years to 2030 are a key moment to scale up action, accelerate change and keep the promise of the SDGs.
The UN Department of Global Communications will hold its flagship SDG Media Zone at UN Headquarters in New York during the High-level week 22-26 September, with impactful in-depth interviews and dialogues on global issues that matter to people everywhere. All events will be streamed LIVE on UN Web TV.
For a cheat sheet of the week, please visit the UN General Assembly High-level Week page.
“Eighty years ago, from the ashes of war, the world planted a seed of hope. One Charter, one vision, one promise: that peace is possible when humanity stands together.”
– António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, 26 June 2025
In Focus – TEN THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
22 September | UN80
A one-hour High-level General Assembly meeting will mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, with Heads of State and Government convening to reflect on eight decades of global cooperation and the path ahead for a more inclusive and responsive multilateral system. More here.
22 September | SDG Moment
The annual SDG Moment highlights inspiring action on the Sustainable Development Goals. Showcasing stories of transformation across sectors — from renewable energy to gender equality. The 2025 SDG Moment will bring together global and national efforts to accelerate just and inclusive transitions, even in the face of global challenges.
22 September | High-level Meeting on the 30th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women
Marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the UN General Assembly will convene a High-level meeting highlighting achievements, best practices, gaps, and ongoing challenges in advancing gender equality worldwide under the theme “Recommitting to, resourcing and accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.”
20 – 26 September | SDG Media Zone and Goals Lounge
The UN Department of Global Communications’ flagship SDG Media Zone features live interviews, discussions and social media opportunities to inspire action on the SDGs. Join us for a full week of engaging speakers! Click here for more information and for regular updates on the programme.
Convened by the UN Deputy Secretary-General and hosted by the UN Office for Partnerships, the Goals Lounge will feature unscripted dialogues, deep dives into vital issues and host interactive experiences — all designed to keep the promise of the SDGs for people, for the planet, for peace.
All events are live streamed on UN WebTV.
23 – 27 September and 29 September | General Debate
World leaders will gather to engage in the annual high-level General Debate under the theme, “Better Together,” emphasizing unity, solidarity and collective action. Heads of State and Government and ministers will explore solutions to intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security and sustainable development.
24 September | Climate Summit
The Climate Summit serves as a platform for world leaders to present their new national climate action plans and seize the benefits of the clean energy era. Ahead of COP30 in Brazil, the Summit will focus on demonstrating commitment and accelerating action to protect people and the planet in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
24 September | Biennial Summit for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Global Economy: Implementing commitments on financing for development
This first Biennial Summit, mandated by last year’s Pact for the Future, is envisaged as a platform to unite multilateral efforts and the international financial system around shared goals for sustainable development. More here.
25 September | High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being
Heads of States and Government will meet to set a new vision for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the promotion of mental health and well-being towards 2030 and beyond, through a new, ambitious and achievable political declaration. More here.
25 September | High-level Meeting to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth
Under the theme “World Programme for Action for Youth (WYAP) at 30: Accelerating Global Progress Through Intergenerational Collaboration,” this high-level meeting will focus on strengthening intergenerational partnerships and renewing commitments to advance the global youth agenda.
30 September | High-level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar
The UN General Assembly will hold a High-level plenary meeting to address the crisis facing Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar. The meeting aims to sustain international attention, review the situation on the ground, and propose a concrete, time-bound plan for a sustainable resolution—including efforts to ensure the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of displaced communities.
Highlights
9 | Report: Global UN study on military spending and the SDGs
The UN Secretary-General will launch a study on the impact of rising global military spending on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals – The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future. The study will look at trade-offs and opportunity costs embedded in current patterns of global military spending and make recommendations to reframe the global approach to security underpinned by diplomacy and cooperation. The study will be available on this website.
16 | Report: The Gender Snapshot 2025
Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2025, developed by UN Women and the UN Department of Economic Affairs, will launch on 16 September 2025 at 12:45 p.m. EDT at the UN Headquarters in New York. The report draws from more than 100 data sources to track progress for women and girls across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Anchoring the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, the report offers both a stark warning and a clear way forward, identifying six priority areas to accelerate action and achieve equality for all women and girls by 2030.
18 | Report: Global State of Water Resources
This annual report by the World Meteorological Organization compiles input from a wide network of hydrological experts, seeking to enhance the accessibility and availability of observational data and strengthen the understanding of water cycle dynamics.
International Days and Years
16 | International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
On this day we not only celebrate the multilateral, coordinated efforts to phase out ozone-depleting substances, but also look to the future for deeper and faster action under the Montreal Protocol. Learn more about the Montreal Protocol and facts about the ozone layer here.
20 | World Cleanup Day
World Cleanup Day offers the world an opportunity to undertake clean up efforts around the world. Coordinated by Let’s Do It World, this year’s theme focuses on fashion and textile waste, highlighting the issueof waste generated by the global fashion industry. Join the movement by organizing cleanup actions, spreading awareness and more here.
21 | International Day of Peace
On the International Day of Peace, the UN will launch a year-long campaign called – Hear Us. ActNow for a Peaceful World – to expand spaces for youth participation as critical agents of peace. Through social mobilization and public advocacy, the campaign will amplify young people’s voices, visions and solutions at this pivotal moment in history. The campaign is part of the UN ActNow initiative. More information on the campaign, including opportunities to join, will be available on this website.
23 | International Day of Sign Languages
Established by the UN, the International Day of Sign Languages on 23 September raises awareness of sign language access, celebrates its role in inclusion, and reaffirms the principle of ‘nothing about us without us.’ On this day, the UN honors the global importance of sign languages in realizing the human rights of deaf individuals and preserving cultural and linguistic diversity. Learn more about the Day, its meaning, and how sign languages empower communities here.
29 | International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
The sixth edition of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is calling for the expansion and strengthening of stakeholder efforts to reduce food loss and waste, as a critical element of securing a sustainable food future for all. A global virtual event will be convened by FAO and UNEP on 29 September at 1:30pm CEST to mark this fifth observance. Register here.
ACTNOW for our Common Future
ActNow is the United Nations campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals. The Goals can improve life for all of us. Cleaner air. Equal opportunities. A peaceful world. These issues matter to everyone. But progress is too slow. We have to act, urgently, to accelerate changes that add up to better lives on a healthier planet. Join the campaign to learn — and do — more for #OurCommonFuture.
Visit ActNow: https://www.un.org/actnow
Awake at Night Podcast
Season 11 of the UN’s award-winning podcast is now streaming! Hosted by Under-Secretary-General for Communications Melissa Fleming, Awake at Night gives exclusive insights into how UN staff around the world serve humanity in some of the toughest places on earth. Join UN Chief Communicator Melissa Fleming as she gets to know the extraordinary people dedicating their lives to service.
Discover all the episodes here ->https://pod.link/1429922419