September 18, 2018 (All day) to October 5, 2018 (All day)
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
United States
The 73rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 73) will open on 18 September 2018. The first day of the high-level General Debate will be Tuesday, 25 September 2018, and is scheduled to last for nine working days. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President-elect of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), announced in July 2018 that the theme of the general debate would be, ‘Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable, and Sustainable Societies.’
Connect4Climate will actively support the United Nations, Pvblic Foundation, UN Foundation and partner for the SDG Media Zone on September 24-28 (see more below).
Photo Credits: Max Thabiso Edkins / Connect4Climate
On September 24, the UNGA will hold a high-level plenary meeting on global peace in honor of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, known as the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit. The plenary will adopt a political declaration negotiated by the Member States. In May 2018 the Permanent Representatives of South Africa and Ireland, serving as co-facilitators, began consulting with governments on the content of the declaration.
On September 26, the UNGA will hold a high-level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis, as agreed by the Member States in February 2018.
On September 27, the UN will hold a one-day comprehensive review of the progress achieved in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which will be the third high-level meeting of the UNGA on the issue.
Many events will take place in parallel to the opening of the 73rd session of the UNGA under the banners of Global Goals Week 2018 and Climate Week NYC 2018.
SDG Media Zone
Connect4Climate is actively supporting the United Nations, Pvblic Foundation, UN Foundation and partner for the SDG Media Zone on September 24-28 where solution makers will discuss initiatives and innovative approaches to advancing the Goals.
The SDG Media Zone — a live format of interviews, panel discussions and other digital content—seeks to create, connect, and highlight the initiatives that the global community is working on to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Bringing together well-known personalities and Member States as well as content creators, influencers and media partners, the Zone provides a dynamic space to strengthen the commitment of the international community in support of the 2030 Agenda.
Photo Credits: Kaia Rose / Connect4Climate
Program
September 24
9:40-9:50 AM: Partnerships for Change
Guest: Paul Polman, SDG Advocate and CEO of Unilever Interviewer: Nanette Braun, Chief, Communications Campaign Service, UN Department of Public Information 10:00-10:15 AM: SDGs and the Outer Space Simonetta Di Pippo, Director, UN Office for Outer Space Affairs Namira Salim, Founder and Executive Chairperson, Space Trust Moderator: Robert Skinner, Executive Director, UN Office for Partnership 10:30-10:45 AM: Businesses and Sustainability Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Development Limited Emmanuel Lulin, Chief Ethics Officer, L'Oreal Teressa Szelest, President, BASF Hanaa Helmy, CEO, EFG Hermes Moderator: Dan Thomas, Chief Communications Officer, UN Global Compact 11:00-11:15 AM: Continuing Mandela’s long walk to freedom: Delivering the SDGs Graça Machel, Co-founder of The Elders and SDG Advocate Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General, Amnesty International Interviewer: Sherwin Bryce-Pease, UN Bureau Chief, SABC 11:30-11:45 AM: Working for and with Young People Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, UN Population Fund Maher Nasser, Director, Outreach Division, UN Department of Public Information Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Ankit Agarwal, Young Leader for the SDGs Miao Wang, Young Champion of the Earth, UN Environment 12:00-1:00 PM: Viewing at the Zone: Launch of the UN Youth Strategy 5:30-5:45 PM: Conversation with Jack Ma Jack Ma, SDG Advocate and Chairman of Alibaba Interviewer: Juju Chang, ABC News
September 25
10:00-10:15 AM: Education for All: Leaving no one Behind Leymah Gbowee, SDG Advocate and Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Laureate Moderator: Alison Bellwood, Director, World’s Largest Lesson 10:45-11:00 AM: Financing for Development Elliot Harris, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development and Chief Economist Other Speakers TBC Moderator: Alison Smale, Under-Secretary-General, Global Communications 11:15-11:30 AM: Migration and Sustainable Development Louise Arbor, UN Special Representative for International Migration Monica Ramirez, Founder, Justice for Migrant Women Other Speakers TBC Moderator: Tolu Olubunmi, UN Department of Public Information 12:00-1:00 PM: Youth Kavya Shetty, Project Senior Manager, Logistimo Sarah Bawazir, Board Member, Beacon of Hope Nighat Dad, Founder & Executive Director, Digital Rights Foundation 1:10-2:10 PM: Global Day of ActionShowcase of action around the world
2:15-2:30 PM: Young Changemakers Michael Scott Peters, US Youth Observer Arpit Dhupar, Young Champion of the Earth, UN Environment Moderator: Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth 3:15-3:30 PM: Solutions-based Journalism Paolo Zanini, Founder, Business Debate Christian de Boisredon, Founder, SparkNews Other Speakers TBC 3:45-4:00 PM: Mobile Technology for Humanitarian Innovation Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, UN Refugee Agency Kyla Reid, Head of Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation and Digital Identity, GSMA Other Speakers TBC 4:45-5:00 PM: CEOs Vision for a Sustainable Future Sigve Brekke, CEO, Telenor Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA Other Speakers TBC Moderator: Halla Tómasdóttir, CEO, The B TeamSeptember 26
10:00-10:15 AM: Tackling Crisis in Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michele Oliver, Vice President, Marketing, Mars Valerie Williamson, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Partnership Innovation, The Economist Moderator: Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division, UN Department of Public Information 11:00-11:20 AM: Cleaner, Healthier, Happier Raya from Sesame Workshop Sherrie Rollins Westin, President, Global Impact and Philanthropy, Sesame Workshop Moderator: Nanette Braun, Chief, Communications Campaigns Service, UN Department of Public Information 11:30-11:45 AM: Bolstering Global Health Care Systems Dr. Vanessa Kerry, Founder, Seed Global Health Dr. Alaa Murabit, SDG Advocate Moderator: Chrysula Winegar, Senior Communications Director, UN Foundation 12:00-1:00 PM: Health, Education, and Empowerment Hassan Azzazy, Co-Founder and CTO, D-Kimia Rodrigo Baggio, Founder and President, CDI International/Recode Siria Gastelum, Project Manager, GIResilience Nick Lum, Founder and CEO, BeeLine Reader 1:45-2:00 PM: Africa Free Trade Agreement Bience Gawanas, UN Special Adviser on Africa Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General, UN Conference on Trade and Development Other Speakers TBC 2:35-2:50 PM: Private Sector Engagement on TB Solutions Dr. Adrian Thomas, Vice President, Global Access, Programs and Policy, Global Public Health, Johnson & Johnson Renuka Gadde, Vice President, Global Health, BD Moderator: Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of Global TB Programme, World Health OrganizationSeptember 27
10:30-10:45 AM: Partnerships for Climate Resilience in Small Island Developing States Nick Davis, CEO of GridMarket Tishka Hope Francis, UN Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States Moderator: Kate Brown, Executive Director, Global Island Partnership 11:30-11:45 AM: Climate Action and Youth Hugh Weldon, Young Champion of the Earth, UN Environment Other Speakers TBC 12:00-1:00 PM: Food, Water and Energy Okey Esse, Founder, Powerstove Energy Sandra Sassow, Co-Founder, SEaB Lennart Thore Budelmann, Co-Founder, aQysta 1:15-1:30 PM: Data to Improve Lives Claire Melamed, Executive Director, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data Rebecca Moore, Manager, Google Earth Outreach Harriet Mugera, Economist, Development Data Group, World Bank Moderator: Jeanine Vos, GSMA 1:45-2:00 PM - Cruelty-free Production and Consumption Jessie Macneil-Brown, Senior Manager International Campaigns and Corporate Responsibility, The Body Shop Other Speakers TBC 2:45-3:00 PM: Her Story, Our Story: Spotlight Initiative Cecilia Suarez, Actress, Mexico Vandana Hart, Founder, We Speak Dance Other Speakers TBC 3:45-4:00 PM: ICT as a Lifeline during Disasters Carlos Bosch, Head of Technology, North America, GSMA Edgardo Saavedra, AT&T Moderator: Nanette Braun, Chief, Communications Campaigns Service, UN Department of Public InformationSeptember 28
10:30-10:45 AM: Role Models for Social Good Jillian Mercado, Model and Advocate for the Rights of People with Disabilities Mari Malek, Refugee turned Model, Humanitarian and Member of the Kenneth Cole Courageous Class Other Speakers TBC 11:30-11:45 AM: Public-private Partnerships for the SDGs Sanda Ojiambo, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Safaricom Cristina Gallach, High Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda, Spain Christa Gyori, Co-Founder and CEO, Leaders On Purpose Moderator: Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division, UN Department of Public Information 12:00-12:15 PM: The Future of Conscious Fashion Celine Semaan, CEO, The Library Pierre Nicolas Hurstel, Founder, REMODE Eglantina Zingg, Model and Founder, Proyecto Paz Moderator: Lucie Brigham, Chief of Office, UN Office for Partnerships 1.00-1.15 PM: In Conversation with Michelle Bachelet Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Other Speakers TBC 1:45-2:00 PM: Bridging the Digital Gender Divide Ursula Wynhoven, ITU Representative to the United Nations Ann Rosenberg, SAP Other Speakers TBC Moderator: Anna Falth, UN Women 2:15-2:30 PM: Mothers as leaders in pursuit of the SDGs Sarah Lux Lee, Founder, Mindr73rd UNGA High-Level Side Event on Social Business, Youth and Technology
Tuesday, September 25, 2018 - 8:00–11:00 AM EDT
CR4, United Nations HQ, New York
In September 2015, at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, member states formally adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in action, peace, justice and strong institutions and in total 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To achieve SDGs, it is critical that the youth work actively into the pursuit of the goals. Youth of today tend to be more educated, technologically adept, and resilient to diseases that previous generations were not resilient to. Many of the youth have already made contributions to SDGs and their work should be strengthened. With the deepening of these activities for achieving the SDGs.
Social business was defined and described by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and UN SDG advocate Professor Muhammad Yunus. In his book, he defined a social business as “business created and designed to address a social problem, a nonloss, non-dividend company which is financially self-sustainable and in which profits realized by the business are reinvested in the business itself. ”
Global Committee on Social Business, Youth and Technology aims at building an active network with member states, academic society, private sector for supporting youth on their SDG innovative solution.
Tentative Program Agenda
Welcome - Opening Moderator - Mr. Alex Wang, Global Committee on Social Business, Youth and Technology. Secretary-General, Youthink Center 8:00-8:20 AM: YOUTH4SDG Talks Moderator – Ms. Melody Chang. Youth for SDG Global Movement UN Youth Delegates and UNGA Youth Delegations Youth in Action4SDG Stories –SDG Young Leaders, UN Youth Delegates and UNGAYouth Delegations 8:20-8:50 AM: Pecha Kucha PresentationsSIMPLON.CO, French social business to help young adults in Abidjan
Lola Blanc, Policy Officer on Social innovation and private sector, Sustainable Development Department, French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs Mr. Tadej Slapnik, Chairman of Advisory Board at European Blockchain Hub and Former State Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of SloveniaYouth & Community Development through Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Professor Rajesh Nair, Director of MIT Asia School of Business - Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center 9:00-9:20 AM: High-Level Opening: Innovate Together for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Moderator and Event Introduction - Mr. Alex Wang, Global Committee on Social Business, Youth and Technology, Secretary-General, Youthink Center H.E. Christophe ITIER, French High Commissioner for Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation, President of the International SSE Pilot Group H.E. Dr. Miro Cerar, Foreign Minister of The Government of Slovenia (TBC) H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, United Arab Emirates H.E. Mr.Christian Braun, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations 9:30-10:00 AM: High-Level Keynote: Leave No One Behind Moderator: Dominique V. Dauster, Global Committee on Social Business, Youth and Technology , Managing Director, Yunus&You - The YY Foundation Ms. Norma Munguía, Director General for Global Issues at the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Mexico Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Laureate, UN SDG Advocate Dr. Alaa Murabit, UN SDG Advocate, Founder of the Voice of Libyan Women 10:00-10:30 AM: SDGAction: Innovation Together for SDG Through Social Business, Youth and Technology Mr. Tadej Slapnik, Chairman of Advisory Board at European Blockchain Hub and Former State Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. John Coonrod, Executive Vice President, The Hunger Project; Movement for Community-led Development Juan Elias Chebly, Founder, Give me 5 – Global Initiative for SDG Financing and Lead Advisor, UN Environment New York Office Mr WooChong Um, Director-General Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development BankIntervention from:
H.E. Reem bin Karam, Director,NAMA Women Advancement Establishment 10:30-11:00 - Leading by Examples - Local Action, Global Impact Professor Rajesh Nair, Director of MIT Asia School of Business -Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center Lola Blanc, Policy Officer on Social innovation and private sector, Sustainable Development Department, French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs Christian Vanizette, Founder, MakeSense Dr. Miroslav Polzer, Secretary-General, International Association for the Advancement of Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges (IAAI)Please join the conversation online using hashtags
#Together4SDG #SocialBusiness4SDG #Youth4SDG