UN Climate Change News, 21 September 2020 – The United Nations is marking its 75th anniversary with a one-day high-level event at the General Assembly (UNGA 75), under the theme: ‘The Future we Want, the UN we Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism'. This year’s General Assembly has a strong focus on the topics of sustainability and climate change.

Today also sees the start of New York Climate Week, which will focus on pursuing a net-zero future through a just transition to low-carbon economies. A highlight is the COP26 & the Zero Carbon Growth Agenda event featuring COP26 President Alok Sharma, COP25 President Carolina Schmidt, Michael R. Bloomberg of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change (follow live at 18:00 ET - New York time - and see the relevant press release).

Today’s mainly virtual official commemoration includes a declaration on the UN’s 75th anniversary. The declaration recalls the UN’s successes and failures over more than seven decades and vows to build a post-pandemic world that is more equal, works together and protects the planet, in a spirit of inclusive multilateralism.

“The urgency for all countries to come together, to fulfill the promise of the nations united, has rarely been greater,” it says, while praising the United Nations as the only global organization that “gives hope to so many people for a better world and can deliver the future we want,” the statement reads.

To mark its 75th anniversary, the United Nations launched “a global conversation” in January using surveys and polls to find out what all kinds of people were thinking about the future. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the results “striking:”

“People are thinking big — about transforming the global economy, accelerating the transition to zero carbon, ensuring universal health coverage, ending racial injustice and ensure that decision-making is more open and inclusive,” he said. “And people are also expressing an intense yearning for international cooperation and global solidarity.”

Ahead of this year’s General Assembly, Mr. Guterres highlighted how societies can build back better in the wake of COVID-19 by transitioning to low-carbon economies and has set out six actions for a climate-positive recovery:

• Deliver new jobs and businesses through a green and just transition while accelerating the decarbonization of all aspects of the economy.
• Use taxpayers’ money to create green jobs and inclusive growth when rescuing businesses.
• Shift economies from grey to green, with using public financing that makes societies more resilient.
• Invest public funds in the future, to projects that help the environment and climate.
• Consider risks and opportunities for your own economy, as the global financial system works to shape policy and infrastructure. 
• Work together as an international community to combat COVID-19 and climate change.

On 24 September, a special 90-minute online event will showcase high-impact activities undertaken in the framework of the UN Secretary-General’s six climate positive actions.

A day before, on 23 September, a Climate Action Event at SDG Action Zone (22-24 September) organized by UN Climate Change will highlight stories of people creating change – and explain how everyone can become part of the solution. Gonzalo Muñoz, High-Level Climate Champion for COP25, will speak at the event.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa will participate in several events on the margins of the UN General-Assembly, including the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC’s) inaugural webinar in the series titled ‘One Voice – Towards a Brighter Future’.

Highlights of New York Climate Week

Among the more than 350 events that will take place across New York City and around the world are:

Best Practice for Natural Solutions in the Race to Zero

The ‘Race to Zero’ campaign of the High-Level Climate Champions aims to create a race to the top on climate action. UK High Level Climate Action Champion Nigel Topping will be among the speakers at an opening day event titled ‘Best Practice for Natural Solutions in the Race to Zero’ which will explore the opportunity and limitations of natural climate solutions to deliver net zero targets and limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius or even 2 degrees Celsius.

Exponential Climate Action Summit - Race to Zero through digitalization

This event on 24 September will explore how digitalization can foster action in businesses and governments. Speakers will include founding Partner at Global Optimism and former UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Christiana Figueres, and UK High Level Climate Action Champion Nigel Topping. This event is arranged by We Don’t Have Time together with the Exponential Roadmap, Climate Week NYC 2020, Race To Zero, the International Chamber of Commerce and Sting.

Source：UN

Author：UN

Date：September 21, 2020