Overview
The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly marks a crucial milestone in the journey towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and the urgent need to put the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track.
Photo: UN/Cia Pak
General Debate
World leaders gathered to engage in the annual high-level General Debate under the theme, “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.” Heads of State and Government and ministers explored solutions to the intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security, and sustainable development.
General debate
Photo: UN/Mark Garten
SDG Summit
Heads of State and Government gathered at UN Headquarters in New York on 18-19 September 2023 to review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to the target year of 2030 for achieving the Goals. Read the full political declaration here.
SDG Summit
Photo: UN/Isaac Billy
High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development
The High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development, took place on the heels of the SDG Summit, providing political leadership and guidance on the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda – a UN framework for mobilizing resources to achieve the SDGs – as well as identifying progress and emerging challenges and mobilize further action. Read more about what to what you need to know about financing for development here.
Financing for Development website
Photo: Asian Development Bank
Climate Ambition Summit
Alongside the SDG Summit, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres convened the Climate Ambition Summit, with a call on every leader from Governments, business, cities and regions, civil society, and financial institutions to step up. The UN chief urged individuals or organizations participating in the event to present credible, serious and new climate action and nature-based solutions that will move the needle forward and respond to the urgency of the climate crisis. Read the Chair‘s Summary here (PDF).
Climate Ambition Summit
Photo: WHO EMRO
High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response
The President of the General Assembly, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, convened Heads of State and Government for a one-day meeting to adopt a political declaration aimed at mobilizing political will at the national, regional and international levels for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
Political Declaration (PDF)
Photo: NASA
Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Summit of the Future
A ministerial meeting took place to prepare for the September 2024 Summit of the Future, which marks a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance global cooperation to tackle critical challenges, address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments, including to the SDGs and the United Nations Charter, and make a multilateral system better positioned to positively impact people’s lives.
Summit of the Future
Photo: Md. Akhlas Uddin
High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage
The High-Level Meeting presented an opportunity for countries and stakeholders to renew efforts and accelerate progress toward achieving health for all. The meeting served as the foundation for executing policies and ensuring responsibility for strengthening health systems for the future, building on the 2019 Political Declaration.
Universal Health Coverage
Photo: ILO/Vijay Kuty
High-level Meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis
The UN General Assembly held the second high-level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis on 22 September 2023, under the theme, “Advancing science, finance and innovation, and their benefits, to urgently end the global tuberculosis epidemic, in particular, by ensuring equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment and care.”
Fight against Tuberculosis