UNIDO at the UNGA.78 high-level week, the SDG Action Weekend and SDG Summit 2023

At the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the high-level week of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2023 marks a crucial milestone in global efforts to accelerate sustainable development.

The UNIDO delegation led by Director General Müller will bring messages and actions aimed at climate action, ending hunger, promoting sustainable supply chains and fair trade, and encouraging the decarbonization of industry to create a more sustainable future.

The SDG Summit marks the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals with high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to 2030.

To maximize the SDG Summit’s impact, the United Nations is organizing an SDG Action Weekend just prior to the Summit. On Saturday, the SDG Mobilization Day will create an opportunity for stakeholders from all sectors to set out specific commitments and contributions to drive SDG transformation. The SDG Acceleration Day, on Sunday, will be centered around the UN high-impact initiatives, including Transforming4Trade and Food Systems Transformation supported by UNIDO.

On the sidelines of the SDG Summit, UNIDO and Deloitte are convening a high-level public-private roundtable for critical actors across global food supply chains to initiate a process of accelerated innovation. Another key event for UNIDO is a side event on decarbonization of heavy-emitting industries at the margins of the UN Climate Ambitions Summit. As a new initiative to be presented during the high-level week, the UNIDO Innovation Award acknowledges international companies and cities that have made remarkable contributions to sustainable industrial development on a global scale. The week concludes with the IDDA III high-level event.

Overview of UNIDO at the high-level week

SDG Acceleration Day – High-impact initiatives
When: Sunday, 17 September 2023, 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM (EDT)
Where: UNHQ
Organizers/Partners: UN system entities
Link

SDG Summit
When: Monday, 18 September 2023, 09:00 AM – 06:00 PM (EDT) & Tuesday, 19 September 2023, 3:00 – 7:00 PM (EDT)
Where: General Assembly Hall and Trusteeship Council Chamber
Organizers/Partners: President of the General Assembly, Secretary-General, UN DESA
Link
Live coverage

UNIDO-Deloitte high-level roundtable “Thought for Food Collaborating for food supply chain innovation to accelerate the SDGs”
When: Monday, 18 September 2023, 11:00 AM – 01:30 PM (EDT)
Where: Rockefeller Center (by invitation only)
Collaboration: UNIDO, Deloitte

United Nations General Assembly high-level general debate
When: opening on Tuesday, 19 September 2023, 09:00 – 10:00 AM (EDT)
Where: UN General Assembly Hall
Organizers/Partners: President of the General Assembly, Secretary-General
Link

UNIDO Innovation Awards & German SDG Awards
When: Tuesday, 19 September 2023, 05:00 – 07:00 PM (EDT)
Where: Harvard Club New York
Organizers/Partners: UNIDO, Senate of Economy Germany
Link

International Conference on Sustainable Development
Keynote address by the UNIDO Director General
When: Wednesday, 20 September 2023, 09:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Where: Columbia University
Organizer/Partner: SDSN
Link
Registration

Side event at the margins of the Climate Ambition Summit “Financing decarbonization of heavy emitting industries”
When: Wednesday, 20 September 2023, 12:30 – 02:30 PM (EDT)
Where: American Council on Germany (by invitation only)
Organizers/Partners: UNIDO, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Germany)

IDDA III high-level event “Positioning Africa’s Industrial Skills Development, Deployment and Retention: Accelerating Manufacturing”
When: Friday, 22 September 2023, 01:00 – 03:00 PM (EDT)
Where: Delegates Dining Room, UN HQ (by invitation only)
Organizers/Partners: UNIDO, African Union
Link