This session will explore corporate best practices around climate-related disclosures, their use of leading disclosure frameworks such as SASB and TCFD, and approaches to mapping these disclosures to environmental-related Global Goals. We will also hear from a leading institutional investor on how they are proactively assessing company environmental disclosures as part of their investment decision-making process and how companies can position themselves to meet with these expectations and align with their environmental-related impact objectives. Our panel will dive into how increased transparency across corporate environmental disclosures will ultimately be a key driver of sustainable long-term value creation. This session is intended for corporate practitioners within CSR, Sustainability, and Investor Relations but is open to all audiences.
Open Event
UN75 Youth Plenary
The UN75 Youth Plenary will be as a one-day event convened by the United Nations in which discussions are led and driven by young people. Young people will take the center stage throughout the day as “keynote speakers” and Member States and high-level Government officials as well as UN representatives will participate as “keynote listeners”. As such, the Youth Plenary will be held in an innovative and youth-led format and will not include a plenary debate with statements from Member States in accordance with usual practice of the Assembly.
The event will kick off with a ceremonial opening and remarks by the President of the General Assembly, followed by an interactive discussion between young people and the UN Secretary General regarding current global trends, emerging risks and the opportunities we have as a collective to bridge the gap between the future we need and the preset realities and experiences.
Webinar: Ensuring meaningful participation of civil society in UN processes
Lessons learned from HLPF and the way forward.
The webinar provides an important occasion to reflect on the lessons learned from the virtual HLPF (High-level Political Forum) 2020 and asses collective measures needed to enable genuine inclusion of civil society actors and other stakeholders during future UN processes, including HLPF gatherings. The webinar will be hosted by the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN in New York and feature speakers from the Danish Government, the Costa Rican Government, the SDG Kenya Forum, Action for Sustainable Development, UN Major Groups and UN DESA. The discussion will be moderated by the UN Foundation.
This webinar seeks to contribute to emerging efforts to address restrictions on civic space following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and to strengthen greater inclusion of civil society in multi-lateral processes. The event will further provide an opportunity to identify multi-stakeholder recommendations to advance meaningful civil society inclusion in future UN processes including HLPF cycles.
Building Climate-Positive and Resilient Global Food Systems
Looking towards the UN Secretary-General’s Food Systems Summit and COP 26 – two critical international moments to come in 2021 – this event will feature leaders working at the intersections between climate and agriculture.
Participants and panelists will explore opportunities to leverage these key upcoming international moments to ensure that climate resilience in agriculture is at the heart of the global community’s efforts to “recover better” and transform food systems.
The programme will include remarks by:
• Khalid Bomba, CEO, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency
• Rt Hon Lord Zac Goldsmith, Minister of State for Pacific and the Environment, United Kingdom
• Agnes Kalibata, Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit
• Hellen Onyango, Farm to Market Alliance, Kenya
• Elizabeth Cousens, President & CEO of the UN Foundation
• Valerie Guarnieri, Assistant Executive Director, UN World Food Programme
#foodsystems
Equator Prize Initiative Ceremony
We know that the business-as-usual model of how we produce and consume virtually everything – from food, water, medicine, fiber – is unsustainable, and has created our planetary emergency. We need new stories to guide us toward a new normal. The UNDP-led Equator Initiative is a partnership that recognizes and shines a spotlight on new stories that embody the future we need – on local, nature-based solutions that help achieve multiple sustainable development goals. In this session, ten winners will receive the Equator Prize. The celebration will feature remarks by decision makers, celebrities, and the winners themselves along with videos and music. The event will make a powerful case that local action on the three categories of the prize: “Nature for Climate,” “Nature for Water,” and “Nature for Prosperity” offers a powerful planetary response to our planetary emergency.
The Private Sector’s Contribution to the Decade of Action
Catalysing Collaboration Across the Global North and South
Hosted together with the Indian Centre For Responsible Business, this event focuses on reimagining new and transformative global north-south partnerships with the business community, investors, and other stakeholders that will get countries back on track on the SDGs and build resilience in the face of future crises.
Leadership for a More Resilient Future
If there’s one thing for certain in 2020, it’s the fact that it’s no longer business as usual. Now’s the time to broaden the idea of who our stakeholders actually are — our customers, employees, partners, shareholders, communities, and yes, even the planet.
As part of our programming during the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week, Mark Hawkins, President and CFO, Salesforce, will be hosting a conversation with special guests Mellody Hobson, Co‑CEO and President, Ariel Investments, and Doug Peterson, President and CEO, S&P Global. They will share practical suggestions, considerations, and best practices to help us lead in this new normal. We’ll give you a better understanding of how investing in sustainability practices now can help reboot our economy, quicker and more efficiently. So let’s come together, even if it’s virtually, and get on the path to a new, more resilient, more inclusive economy.
Achieving the Global Goals through Local and Regional Governments Actions
Convened by the NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, UN-Habitat, Goal 17 Partners and the City of Helsinki, this virtual event consists of an hour and a half discussion on local and regional governments actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This event will feature local and regional leaders who will discuss ways they are working to meet the 2030 Agenda while managing challenges such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. They will also provide key highlights from their 2020 Voluntary Local Reviews. Civil society and private sector representatives will explore the importance of partnership between these sectors and government to ensure no one is left behind.
YOUNGA Mainstage VR Spectacular
This fall, BridgingTheGap Ventures is organizing the inaugural YOUNGA™ Forum making history as the first-of-its-kind global youth town hall using VR and XR technology. Through an inclusive, forward-looking youth-driven dialogue, YOUNGA will connect young people directly with influential decision-makers and industry leaders to co-create solutions for a more inclusive, sustainable world.
Live streamed worldwide, our mainstage features candid intergenerational fireside chats between influential leaders and young changemakers, along with immersive 360 performances in virtual reality. Over the course of the weekend, Youth Delegates and other attendees will also be able to experience spatial recordings of 35+ Innovation Masterminds at their own pace.
West Africa Legal Empowerment Summit: Community Paralegals Advancing Access to Justice for the Poor amid COVID19
The Inaugural “West Africa Legal Empowerment Summit: Community Paralegals Advancing Access to Justice for the Poor amid COVID19” is a week-long summit that seeks to bring together justice leaders, actors, and organizations that support paralegals from across West Africa to begin a regional conversation on legal empowerment.
Connected Future Series
This World Rhino day, NTT Ltd. will be celebrating Goal 15, Life on Land. Join NTT Ltd.’s CMO, Ruth Rowan and founder and Executive Chairman of the Connected Conservation Foundation, Doc Watson as they share the journey of this great initiative and what the future of proactive conservation can look like.
Asia-Pacific Justice for All Webinar Series
The first session in the series will take place during the Asia Pro Bono Conference on September 26.
This virtual series will gather legal professionals from both the formal and informal sector across the Asia and Pacific regions. Participants will share experiences, solutions and challenges, as well as broaden the conversation to explore legal empowerment from a regional perspective. Particular attention will be paid to how formal and informal institutions can address the needs of marginalized communities.
Goalkeepers Awards
Every year, Goalkeepers presents the annual Global Goals Awards. These awards recognize remarkable individuals taking action to help achieve the Global Goals by 2030. The fifth annual Global Goals Awards will be announced September 22, 2020. Come back then to meet this year’s remarkable recipients.
Asia-Pacific Justice for All Webinar Series
This virtual series will gather legal professionals from both the formal and informal sector across the Asia and Pacific regions. Participants will share experiences, solutions and challenges, as well as broaden the conversation to explore legal empowerment from a regional perspective. Particular attention will be paid to how formal and informal institutions can address the needs of marginalized communities.
Asia-Pacific Justice for All Webinar Series
This virtual series will gather legal professionals from both the formal and informal sector across the Asia and Pacific regions. Participants will share experiences, solutions and challenges, as well as broaden the conversation to explore legal empowerment from a regional perspective. Particular attention will be paid to how formal and informal institutions can address the needs of marginalized communities.
Goalkeepers Report 2020 Launch
In the past, our annual Goalkeepers Report has focused on recognizing the progress we’ve made and offered a clear view of what still needs to be done. But as we’ve all experienced, 2020 is different. Our report reflects that.
We have to confront the current reality with candor: SDG progress has now stopped. In this report, we track 18 indicators included in the United Nations’ SDGs. In recent years, the world has improved on every single one. This year, on the vast majority, we’ve regressed.
Responsible Investor’s Guide To The Goals
Launching September 25, this 19-day series will cover all 17 SDG goals individually, reflecting on progress towards the SDGs’ objectives and the extent to which institutional investors are working with the goals in their financial decision making.
Includes proprietary journalism plus commissioned articles from CEOs, CIOs and heads of responsible investment at leading pension funds and investment houses globally.
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: B-Well Together Wellbeing Break
Kick off Climate Week as Ayana joins us for a chat about climate science, policy, and justice. In conversation with Patrick Flynn, VP of Sustainability at Salesforce.
Dr. Jane Goodall: B-Well Together Wellbeing Break
Hear a discussion on the importance of forests to combat climate change and how you can join the trillion trees movement. Dr. Jane Goodall will be joined by Suzanne DiBianca, Chief Impact Officer & EVP, Corporate Relations of Salesforce for a fireside chat.
Shaping Peace
Peace Talks showcase the inspirational stories of people who are making positive contributions to peace. The Talks started in 2013 through the first ever Geneva Peace Talks.
Previous Peace Talks are available at www.peacetalks.net.
The event is organized by Interpeace in partnership with Salesforce, UN Office at Geneva and the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform.