In the coming decade, the number of persons aged 60 or over is projected to grow by 46 per cent, making the increase in those officially classified as elderly, one of the “most significant transformations of this century,” the United Nations declared on Tuesday, marking the International Day of Older Persons. More
UN Summit on Sustainable Development Goals kick starts ambitious action
to deliver for people and the planet
New York, 24 September 2019 – Four years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with efforts off track for meeting its objectives, world leaders today called for a decade of ambitious action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and announced actions they are taking to advance the agenda.
In the political declaration, “Gearing up for a decade of action and delivery for sustainable development,” unanimously adopted at the opening of the UN Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals, UN Member States pledged to mobilize financing, enhance national implementation and strengthen institutions to achieve the sustainable development objectives by the target date and leave no one behind.
For more information and media contacts download full SDG Summit press release
Summit delivers major step up in national ambition and private sector action on pathway to key 2020 climate deadline
As recognition mounts that time is running out, youth leaders warn: ‘we will be watching’
New York, 23 September—Major announcements by government and private sector leaders at the United Nations Climate Action Summit boosted climate action momentum, and demonstrated growing recognition that the pace of climate action must be rapidly accelerated.
77 countries committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, while 70 countries announced they will either boost their national action plans by 2020 or have started the process of doing so.Over 100 business leaders delivered concrete actions to align with the Paris Agreement targets, and speed up the transition from the grey to green economy, including asset-owners holding over $2 trillion in assets and leading companies with combined value also over $2 trillion.
Many countries and over 100 cities – including many of the world’s largest – announced significant and concrete new steps to combat the climate crisis.
Students and young activists on Saturday threw down the gauntlet to world leaders heading to United Nations Headquarters next week for high-level climate talks, demanding that they “stop wasting time” and work harder to curb carbon emissions, “or we will vote you out.” More
The youth of the world are gathering at the United Nations to call for urgent climate action.
On Saturday 22 September, the UN Youth Climate Summit will be held in New-York as part of a weekend of events leading up to the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit on Monday, September 23.
Watch LIVE the Climate Action Summit 2019 Starting 21 September – 23 September on UN WebTV: http://webtv.un.org
The Youth Climate Summit will feature a full-day of programming that brings together young activists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers who are committed to combating climate change at the pace and scale needed to meet the challenge. It will be action oriented, intergenerational, and inclusive, with equal representation of young leaders from all walks of life.
Youth are leading the charge against climate change in Pacific island countries that are especially vulnerable to its damaging effects. In Fiji, Vanuatu and Tuvalu, the tropical environment faces cyclones and other threats. Young people respond with an urgent call for the world to act.
Watch LIVE the Climate Action Summit 2019
Starting 21 September – 23 September on UN WebTV: http://webtv.un.org
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The 74th UN General Assembly takes places this September, with leaders from around the globe converging on New York to tackle the world’s greatest challenges.
Watch the General Debate LIVE on YouTube on our channel: http://www.youtube.com/unitednations September 24 – 30, 2019
Watch other events LIVE on UN Web TV: http://webtv.un.org
Young people are extremely motivated and passionate to act against the climate crisis says Alex Whitebrook 1 of 100 young climate champions chosen to participate in UN Youth Climate Summit
on September 21 at UN HQ in New York.
The UN Youth Climate Summit is a platform for young leaders who are driving climate action to showcase their solutions at the United Nations, and to meaningfully engage with decision-makers on the defining issue of our time.
This historic event will take place on Saturday, September 21 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, as part of a weekend of events leading up to the
UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit on Monday, September 23.
In the lead up to the Climate Action Summit on 23 September 2019, to raise ambition and increase climate action, UNIC Canberra in partnership with Australian National University (ANU) Climate Change Institute (CCI) and the Pacific Missions in Canberra organised a public lecture called “UN Climate Action Summit 2019: A Pacific Youth Talanoa for greater ambition on climate change”, on 2 September 2019 at Kambri Cinema, ANU.
The Vice-Chancellor and the President and Chief Executive Officer of ANU, Prof Brian Schmidt, delivered the welcome remarks and expressed his solidarity with the UN Secretary General and with the Pacific neighbours in their call to governments around the world to increase their ambition on climate change. Prof Schmidt noted that ANU researchers, economists and several interdisciplinary teams were working to explore mechanisms for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which would not only help tackle climate change, but also create new economic opportunities, support regional communities, improve health outcomes and protect biodiversity.
Nai Jit Lam, UNHCR Deputy Regional Representative delivered the introductory remarks and highlighted that concrete climate action outcomes can be achieved through partnerships and greater political will, together with the intelligence and passion of our youth.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, Mr. Guterres commended “all those who brought this to fruition, including President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Vladimir Putin”.
“He hopes that this important humanitarian act could serve as a positive step towards strengthening confidence among all, enabling regular and constructive dialogue at all levels with a view to paving the way to an eventual settlement of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine”, the statement continued.
The Secretary-General also urged all relevant parties to “take further measures in this spirit, to ensure continued momentum in the ongoing peace efforts by the Normandy Four, the Trilateral Contact Group, the OSCE and other actors, including by ensuring a durable ceasefire, easing humanitarian conditions along the contact line, and enabling progress in the implementation of the Minsk Agreements”.