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Special News--September 2019One Week--Five UN Summits--17 Goals
Action for All People and the PlanetUN New York, 23-27 September 2019
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UN New York: We the peoples...
We connect, we contribute, we critique, we confront, we support...the UN.
We the peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom…(Excerpt from the Preamble, UN Charter, 1945)
In this Update we feature the five upcoming High-Levels Summits taking place in New York this month. These strategic events are part of the annual UN General Assembly, with several sessions to be live streamed on UN WebTV.
The five Summit topics are:
1. Climate Action
2. Universal Health Coverage
3. Sustainable Development Goals
4. Financing for Development
5. Small Island Developing States
Have a look at the summary descriptions below. They also link to the core materials prepared for the five Summits. In addition, we have listed resources/links, mostly from Civil Society, which are directly relevant to the overlapping Summit topics.
We encourage you to save the dates and tune in to one or more of the Summits. Our hope is that these latest efforts and materials can help us all "take action for all people and the planet" (Summits Week theme) by "actively and responsibly engaging in our world--locally to globally" (Global Integration framework).
See also: SDG Progress Reports (GI Update, August 2019) and Keeping Up with the UN (GI Update, April 2019).
Build the world we need--be the people we need.
Warm greetings from Geneva,
Kelly and Michèle
Featured ResourcesOne Week--Five UN Summits--17 Goals
Action for All People and the PlanetUN New York, 23-27 September 2019 UN Geneva: We the peoples...
We connect, we contribute, we critique, we confront, we support...the UN.
And for these ends to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims. (Excerpt from the Preamble, UN Charter,1945)
Overview
“Every September, the Member States of the United Nations meet at the General Assembly in New York to discuss the critical issues of global concern. This year, in addition to the general debate, world leaders will participate in a series of summits and high-level meetings to boost action on climate change and accelerate progress on sustainable development, aimed at securing healthy, peaceful and prosperous lives for all. Underpinning the action week are the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by all world leaders in 2015. The 17 interconnected Goals are a universal call to action to end poverty and hunger, expand access to health, education, justice and jobs, while protecting our planet from environmental degradation.” (quote above and quotes for the five Summits below are from UN High-Level Week, September 2019)
The links below provide more background information, objectives, documents, draft programs, and videos. In a phrase, this special week continues the ongoing, collaborative, and crucial efforts to accelerate progress for the wellbeing of all people and the planet.
We encourage you to track with at least one of the Summits and review the accompanying materials. Save the date to live stream at least one of the High Level meetings!
1. Climate Action Summit (23 September 2019)
“This Summit will demonstrate solutions by governments, the private sector and civil society to reduce emissions and build climate resilience and adaptation. It will be preceded by the Climate Youth Summit on 21 September, for young leaders who are driving climate action to showcase their solutions and to meaningfully engage with decision-makers on the defining issue of our time.”
See also: Climate Crisis; The Race No One Is Winning, Global Geneva (cover story/article, 30 July 2019). "The theme of the September 2019 Climate Summit in New York is “A Race we Must Win”. Yet, despite irrefutable evidence that the climate crisis is worsening by the day, the race has not even left the starting block. It has been four years since nearly every country adopted the Paris Agreement, the international framework designed to reduce carbon emissions and slow global warming. Despite this landmark agreement, climate change continues to be felt across the planet with new records for heatwaves, unpredictable weather patterns and rising sea levels. Most governments continue to mouth the need for action, yet, with time running out, they are proving incapable of making the hard decisions required to reverse this frightening global phenomenon. Global Geneva editors examine what needs to be done." (quote from the website)
2. Universal Health Coverage Summit (23 September 2019)
“The first-ever High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage will launch new efforts to provide access for all to affordable, inclusive and resilient health systems. The meeting will galvanize global commitments to ensure health for all, recognizing the strong links to climate action and the fact that health is a human right and a precondition, outcome and driver of sustainable development.”Note the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Wellbeing for All will be launched on 24 September.
See also: UHC2030. This Civil Society coalition-movement "provides a multi-stakeholder platform to promote collaborative working in countries and globally on health systems strengthening. We advocate increased political commitment to universal health coverage (UHC) and facilitate accountability and knowledge sharing.” (quote from the website)
3. Sustainable Development Goals Summit (24-25 September 2019)
Countries in 2015 unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development--the most ambitious undertaking ever to transform our world to boost prosperity and ensure well-being for all while protecting the environment. [This] Summit will allow world leaders and other stakeholders to demonstrate how they intend to accelerate action to transform our societies and economies, as we move towards the five-year anniversary of the Goals, with just over a decade left to the target date of 2030.”
See also: UN Global Compact. This Civil Society organization, with over 9,900 member-companies from over 160 countries, aims to "mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create the world we want. To make this happen, the UN Global Compact supports companies to: Do business responsibly by aligning their strategies and operations with Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; and Take strategic actions to advance broader societal goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation."
4. Financing for Development Summit (26 September 2019)
“Mobilizing sufficient financing remains a major challenge in realizing the 2030 Agenda, and investments that are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] remain underfunded. Trade-restrictive measures have also accelerated, and debt risks are rising, hampering the ability of many countries to invest in the [SDGs]. The High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development will bring together leaders from Government, business and the financial sector to help unlock the resources and partnerships needed and accelerate progress”.
See also: …G-7 on Inequality Yields Mixed Result on Development, Devex (article, 28 August 2019). “Development advocates delivered a mixed verdict on this year’s G-7 summit of wealthy nations in Biarritz, France, welcoming increased pledges Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, while regretting a lack of detail on efforts to stabilize the Sahel and champion gender equality. French President Emmanuel Macron set the fight against inequality as the theme of this year’s gathering from Aug. 24-26 with the leaders of the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Germany, and Italy, as well as the European Union. Macron also invited a number of African heads of state to participate in some meetings, and involved their staff in shaping the agenda. Rwandan President Paul Kagame tweeted his thanks to Macron and the other leaders, saying “This is what it should be!”" (excerpts from the opening two paragraphs of this article)
5. Small Island Developing States Summit (27 September 2019)
“Small island developing states are among the most vulnerable countries in the world. They face a unique set of issues relating to their small size, remoteness, narrow resource and export base, and exposure to external economic shocks and global environmental challenges, including the impacts of climate change. Five years after an ambitious agreement – the SAMOA Pathway -- to support sustainable development in small island developing states, the High-Level Review will discuss progress on combating the devastating impact of climate change, building economic and environmental resilience, and other challenges.”
See also: Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). “AOSIS is a coalition of 44 small island and low-lying coastal developing states, including five observers. As a voice for the vulnerable…AOSIS often draws on partnerships, including with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Commission, to bolster its capacity to effectively influence climate negotiations, some of the most complex and difficult in the world. AOSIS also makes vital contributions by helping its members to pool their resources and amplify their collective voice in climate talks. This goes beyond just speaking up to securing ambitious agreements with tangible benefits for vulnerable communities.”
Dawn or dusk?
Build the world we want--be the people we need.
Image courtesy and ©2019 JMLOD
Member Care Associates Inc. (MCA) is a non-profit, Christian organization working internationally from Geneva and the USA. MCA's involvement in Global Integration focuses on the wellbeing and effectiveness of personnel and their organizations in the mission, humanitarian, and development sectors as well as global mental health, all with a view towards supporting sustainable development for all people and the planet. Our services include consultation, training, research, developing resources, and publications.
Global Integration (GI) is a framework for actively and responsibly engaging in our world--locally to globally. It emphasizes connecting relationally and contributing relevantly on behalf of human wellbeing and the issues facing humanity, in light of our integrity, commitments, and core values (e.g., ethical, humanitarian, human rights, faith-based). GI encourages a variety of people to be at the “global tables” and in the "global trenches"--and everything in-between--in order to help research, shape, and monitor agendas, policies, and action for all people and the planet. It intentionally links building the world we need with being the people we need.
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