The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, will on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, convene a Climate Ambition Summit as part of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Guterres stated this on the official UN website, noting that the summit will be convened alongside the second SDG Summit, which aims to accelerate action at the mid-way point of the SDGs.
The summit represents a critical political milestone for demonstrating that there is collective global will to accelerate the pace and scale of a just transition to a more equitable renewable-energy based, climate-resilient global economy.
“To accelerate action by governments, business, finance, local authorities and civil society, the UN Secretary-General is convening a Climate Ambition Summit on Sept. 20.
“By showcasing ‘first movers and doers’ who are responding to his call for accelerated climate action, the Summit champions leadership, solutions and ambitious action that are driving the transition to a more sustainable, equitable, climate-resilient global economy.
“As a critical political milestone ahead of COP28, the Summit calls for unprecedented levels of acceleration and cooperation to cut greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods,” he said.
The Climate Action Summit presents an opportunity for decisive progress on climate action and to raise the bar for more timely and targeted efforts.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu will on Tuesday, September 19, address world leaders at the ongoing 78th UNGA.
His address will centre on sustainable development, climate change, global cooperation and the imperative to address inequalities and global humanitarian crises.
The theme for the 78th session of UNGA is: “Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and it’s Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.”
By Muhyideen Jimoh
