UNEP at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly

As part of global efforts to accelerate progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Heads of State and Government will gather at the United Nations headquarters in New York from 23 – 27 September 2024 for the 79th session of the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA 79) high-level week.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is present at UNGA 79 and will also participate in events on the sidelines of the Assembly, as outlined below.

Key events/dates to watch out for on UNEP’s contribution to the UNGA 79

• Green jobs for youth

A high-level side event during the Summit of the Future, titled "Empowering Youth for Sustainable Futures: Intergenerational Responsibility and Skills for a Just Transition". Co-organized by UNEP and the Government of Cyprus, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Government of India, the event will bring together global leaders, youth representatives, and experts to discuss the critical role of green jobs, education, and intergenerational responsibility in achieving a sustainable and equitable future. The event will feature new commitments to the Green Jobs for Youth Pact and explore systemic changes needed to equip the next generation with the skills to lead in a low-carbon, circular economy.

Date: Friday, 20 September 2024
Time: 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM (ET)
Venue: Conference Room 2, UN Headquarters, New York
Virtual Attendance: The event will be live-streamed on UN Web TV

• Partnership for a Lead-Free Future

UNEP will join UNICEF, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and public and private partners to launch the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future, which aims to address the problem of lead poisoning in children, particularly in low-and-middle income countries, where over 90 per cent of global harm from lead occurs.

The event will feature Heads of State and government, private sector and UN leaders, including:  

• Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic
• KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal
• Inger Andersen (Executive Director, UNEP), Ajay Banga (President, World Bank), Cathy Russell (Executive Director, UNICEF), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Director General, WHO), Samantha Power (Administrator, USAID)
• Alexander Berger (CEO, Open Philanthropy), Aliko Dangote (Founder, Dangote Group), Anita Zaidi (President, Gender Equality, Gates Foundation)

Date: Monday, 23 September 2024
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (ET)
Venue: Danny Kaye Visitors Centre, UNICEF, 3 U.N. Plaza New York, NY

• UNEP and IFC report on financing for sustainable cooling

A new International Finance Corporation (IFC) and UNEP-led Cool Coalition joint report, Cooler Finance: Mobilizing Investment for the Developing World’s Sustainable Cooling Needs, identifies numerous private investment opportunities across different segments of the cooling market, including space cooling, refrigeration, cold chains, and transport. Critically, it also highlights the need to increase the adoption of passive cooling strategies.

The new report provides a blueprint for financing sustainable cooling with an emphasis on mobilizing private investment. Sustainable cooling technologies are accessible, affordable, scalable, and minimize environmental impact. They aim for near-zero emissions cooling by 2050 through increasing the use of passive strategies for cooling, raising energy efficiency standards, and accelerating the phasing down of highly polluting refrigerants.

A Technical Launch is being organized at the Energy Now – SDG7 Action Forum 2024

Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Time: 3:15PM – 4.45PM (ET)
Register for the Energy Now SDG7 Action Forum
 

• Galvanizing Momentum for the Global Plastic Pollution Instrument

A high-level side event titled "Galvanizing Momentum for the Global Plastic Pollution Instrument" will take place on the margins of UNGA 79. This event, organized by the Government of Kenya and UNEP, aims to mobilize political momentum and global partnerships in the fight against plastic pollution, focusing on the development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution by the end of 2024. 

The event will feature Heads of State and government and UN leaders, including:  

• William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya (Keynote Speaker) 
• Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda (TBC) 
• Jona Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway  
• Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP 

Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (ET)
Virtual Attendance: The event will be live-streamed on UN Web TV

The programme comprises of opening statements, a high-level panel discussion and Q&A session, followed by a reading of key political messages and closing session.  

• High-Level meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

The UN General Assembly will convene a High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance for the second time during UNGA 79 in New York in September 2024. The meeting is expected to produce a political declaration committing to a clear set of targets and actions.

At the 2016 meeting, for the first time, Heads of State committed to taking a broad, coordinated approach to address the root causes of AMR across multiple sectors, especially human health, animal health and agriculture.

• Side event on AMR

The International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions and the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR hosted by WHO are convening a side event to amplify the voices and perspectives of communities most impacted by AMR to the conversation, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.

The program highlight, among other things, the role and challenges faced by AMR survivors, youths, and the most vulnerable communities such as the indigenous populations due to AMR from a One Health lens.

Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (ET)
Venue: Westin Hotel Grand Central, 212 East 42nd St., New York City

Online Registration is available here

*This is not a final list – new reports and events may be added. Regular updates will be shared on the UNEP website here  UNEP at the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79)