Sustainable Development Summit kicks off busiest time of the year at the UN

October 5, 2015| THARINDU | Blog 0

The busiest time of the year at UN Headquarters kicks off on a high note on Friday, with the opening of special Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals.

More than 150 world leaders are expected to attend and officially adopt a historic new agenda, entitled “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” at a three-day summit that begins Friday, 25 September.

Agreed by the 193 Member States of the United Nations, the new agenda consists of a Declaration, 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets. It calls for action by all countries for all people over the next 15 years in five areas of critical importance: people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership.

Its adoption on Friday will be preceded by an address to the General Assembly by Pope Francis.

Performances are also expected by international pop stars and Goodwill Ambassadors Shakira and Angélique Kidjo. Malala Yousafzai will then share a message alongside 193 young people representatives from all UN Member States.

During the Summit, there will be six interactive dialogues around the following themes:

1. Ending poverty and hunger
2. Tackling inequalities, empowering women and girls and leaving no one behind
3. Fostering sustainable economic growth, transformation and promoting sustainable consumption and production
4. Protecting our planet and combatting climate change
5. Building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions to achieve sustainable development
6. Delivering on a revitalized Global Partnership

Also happening this weekend

A private sector forum, hosted by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and organized by the UN’s Global Compact on 26 September, will focus on the role of the private sector in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. A civil society high-level event will focus on building political will for the implementation of the Summit’s outcome.

On 27 September, more than 70 world leaders are expected to make concrete commitments and firm pledges to overcome gender equality gaps at a historic event co-hosted by UN Women and the People’s Republic of China: the “Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: A Commitment to Action.” 

On Saturday, 26 September, some of the world’s freshest thinkers will discuss how to reach the global goal to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition as well as promoting sustainable agriculture.

In addition, a number of other side events are also expected to focus on specific initiatives.

Follow the summit on Twitter with the hashtag#action2015 and #globalgoals. For more updates follow the UN’s multilingual social media accounts.

As always, the Papal visit, the Summit opening ceremony, statements from each country, adoption of the sustainable development goals and more will be broadcast live on http://webtv.un.org

– See more at: http://blogs.un.org/blog/2015/09/24/sustainable-development-summit-kicks-off-high-level-period-at-the-un/#sthash.CmpY7MBs.b5xOveRt.dpuf

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