World leaders to gather at UN to mark SDG Moment and inspire ambition critical to ending the pandemic and ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for all

What: The SDG Moment serves to place an annual spotlight on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will be held at the beginning of the United Nation’s General Assembly’s High-Level Week. It takes place as the world experiences a deeply uneven response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which risks creating a two-tier recovery with significant implications for the advancement of the SDGs, especially in developing countries. Convened by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Moment will provide world leaders with a platform to showcase the bold plans, actions and solutions that are needed to end the COVID-19 pandemic and set the world on course towards achieving the SDGs. Held in advance of major meetings on food systems, climate, energy, jobs and social protection, the SDG Moment event is expected to build the momentum needed to deliver on the Decade of Action and Keep the Promise of the SDGs. The event will include more than 30 heads of state, a key debate with UN leaders on the COVID-19 Response and Recovery and a musical performance by K-pop band BTS, Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generation and Culture of the President of the Republic of Korea. Leaders from business, civil society, local authorities, the SDG Advocates and the UN will highlight how to take solutions to scale. Why: To get the SDGs back on track and prevent the worst impacts of climate change, a profound shift in economies and societies is now needed that benefits both people and planet.

In the last 18 months, COVID-19 has disrupted economies and livelihoods, deepened inequalities and risks sending over 70 million people into extreme poverty. In the same period, progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions has been too slow and biodiversity loss has continued at an extraordinary pace. This is compounded by a deeply uneven global response to the pandemic with the world’s poorest countries and people suffering the most. The SDGs are the north star for the transformation required to overcome the pandemic and usher in a sustainable and inclusive future for everyone. Recognising this urgency, the UN will launch a new campaign, Keeping the Promise ahead of the SDG Moment. The digital campaign will call on people around the world to make a promise to take action for a better future for all. Users will be asked to choose from 11 promises inspired by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals – the world’s to-do list to protect our planet and all its people.

More information is available: www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sdg-moment https://un.cheerity.com

When: 8 am-5 pm, Monday 20 September 2021 (New York time )

Where: Follow on UN Web TV