High-Level Summits in New York in September
Every year, for one week in late September, the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York becomes an intensive hive of activity for high-level events. The week occurs soon after the opening of the General Assembly session when the Heads of State or Government convene for the General Debate and a range of other high-level meetings and summits. This year’s High-Level week will feature a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit, marking the mid-way point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and a Climate Ambition Summit, convened by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
SDG Summit
The 2023 SDG Summit will be convened on 18–19 September, to follow-up and review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Member States are currently negotiating a political declaration, which will form a key output of the Summit and provide a roadmap for putting the world back on track to achieve the SDGs by the 2030 deadline. Member States have also been invited to make national and global commitments to deliver a "rescue plan for people and planet".
Implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement mitigation and adaptation efforts is currently strongly reflected in the revised draft political statement. Commitments to the responsible use of science, technology and innovation in delivering sustainable development and to increasing the use of science and scientific evidence in policymaking are also important aspects of the draft.
Climate Ambition Summit
On 20 September, Secretary-General Guterres will convene a Climate Ambition Summit to generate “new, tangible and credible climate action” ahead of the next UN Climate Change Conference (28th Session of the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC) in the United Arab Emirates.
Under the themes of acceleration and cooperation, the Climate Ambition Summit will have three priority tracks. An “Ambition” track will focus on governments and emitters making new ambitious commitments on emission reduction targets and climate finance promises. A “Credibility” track will highlight how non-state actors, such as financial institutions and the oil and gas sector, are planning to decarbonize. And an “Implementation” track will showcase where global partnerships are working together to deliver concrete actions.
The Early Warnings for All initiative will be a highly visible part of the implementation track, under the topic of climate justice. The initiative will be showcased as a model that Secretary-General Guterres wishes to replicate to address other global challenges in the climate agenda, recognizing the universal political support for the initiative and the many multi-sector partnerships efforts that are now underway to help achieve the goal.
If any WMO Permanent Representatives or supporting staff are planning to travel to New York as part of their national delegations for high-level week, please contact the WMO New York office so we can support your mission.