International Day of Democracy

This special session will spotlight young leaders driving change on climate and sustainable development. Featuring the UN Secretary-General's SDG Advocates and Youth Advisory Group on Climate, the discussion will highlight youth-led solutions, intergenerational collaboration, and strategies to scale impact. As the UN marks 80 years—and a decade since the SDGs and Paris Agreement—this dialogue affirms young people not just as future leaders, but as changemakers shaping our world today. Impact of Youth Leadership in Communications | Goals Lounge Meetings & Events

   As the United Nations turns 80, the stakes are high. Climate shocks, conflict, and economic instability are driving more communities into crisis, while progress on the Sustainable Development Goals is under threat. At the same time, the humanitarian system is resetting to deliver earlier, faster, and better for people in need. Building on this momentum, the Complex Risk Analytics Fund (CRAF'd), whose broadcast last year reached over 2.5 million viewers, will convene global leaders, thought leaders, policymakers, technologists, and frontline partners for a UN-hosted live event during the United Nations General Assembly High-level Week. The event will examine how smarter use of data and technology, supported by renewed coherence and efficiency, can unlock new solutions to global challenges. Key Themes UN80 and the Humanitarian Compact: How a renewed multilateral system can link humanitarian response with sustainable development. Data, analytics, and AI for crisis action: How ...

In 2024, global military spending surged to $2.7 trillion, reflecting the steepest year-on-year increase since at least the end of the Cold War. In his new report, "The Security We Need-Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future", the Secretary-General analyzes the profound implications of this trend for sustainable development financing. As geopolitical tensions rise and fiscal priorities shift, this session will present findings from the report on the impact of military expenditures on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Related Sites and Documents:  The Value and Values of Multilateralism  &  The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future . Watch the Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future | Goals Lounge! Meetings & Events

   Cities are central to achieving the SDG. As urban areas face mounting challenges, they're also driving solutions—from climate resilience to housing and energy transitions. Through bold, people-centered leadership, cities are redefining global goals and enabling the systemic change needed to build inclusive, resilient urban futures. Related Sites and Documents:  The Value and Values of Multilateralism  &  The Future of Cities . Watch the Future of Cities | Goals Lounge! Meetings & Events

Women media leaders are transforming the industry—breaking barriers, challenging bias, and reshaping narratives. This session spotlights their leadership, with insights from the UN Global Women in Media Report 2025, and the power of inclusive storytelling in shaping public understanding of peace, security, and progress in today's complex global landscape. Related Sites and Documents:  The Value and Values of Multilateralism  &  Beyond the Headlines: How Women Media Leaders Are Expanding the Story . How Women Media Leaders Are Expanding the Story and Reframing the SDGs | Goals Lounge! Meetings & Events

Coffee is more than a beverage — it is a livelihood. Globally, over 12.5 million farmers depend on coffee production, with 80% grown by smallholder farmers. This event will spotlight a multistakeholder partnership strengthening the global coffee value chain as a catalyst for sustainable development. It will highlight coffee's role linking agriculture, industry, and climate policy, while showcasing the Advancing Climate Resilience and Transformation in African Coffee Programme as a platform for investment and collaboration. Related Sites and Documents:  The Value and Values of Multilateralism  &  Brewing Sustainability: The Global Coffee Dialogue Watch Brewing Sustainability: The Global Coffee Dialogue | Goals Lounge! Meetings & Events

The Agreement is a documentary film Executive Produced by John W McArthur, Directed by Raeshem Nijhon of Culture House, and Produced by Nicole Galovski of Culture House on how the world came together to create a unified vision for a better future for all : the Sustainable Development Goals. First premiered in 2023 at the SDG Pavilion at United Nations Headquarters, the film tells the story of how the world came to create the Sustainable Development Goals and aims to inspire audiences to appreciate the goals as common ambitions for all people in all countries. With 5 years to go, the film shows what is possible when we work together toward a shared vision, but it is also a reminder that we need to restore the hope that drove this process in 2015 if we are to transform our world for the better. Related Documents:  The Value and Values of Multilateralism  &  ‘The Agreement’ Screening . Watch 'The Agreement' Screening | Goals Lounge! Meetings & Events

As the world races toward the 2030 SDG deadline, local communities are driving change. This session unfolds in three parts: the first, Destination Gothenburg, highlights the role of cities and the announcement of Gothenburg, Sweden, as a new host of the UN Sustainable Fashion and Lifestyle Hub , showcasing cross-sector collaborations and SDG champions. The second, Green Gigs: Net-Zero Events , explores how the live music industry is leading on climate action . It examines the vision behind Net-Zero concerts and the growing expectations of fans and communities, showing how sustainable cultural events can drive meaningful change . The third, Materials that Matter, explores innovative practices driven by the fashion industry , from circularity to regenerative materials, and greener and inclusive practices, and their impact on local communities. Related Documents:  The Value and Values of Multilateralism  &  Let’s Go Glocal: Destination Gothenburg, Sweden & Materials...

 Nearly half the world lacks financial resilience. This session explores inclusive financial systems, looking at how they can reach underserved communities and support their inclusion and economic resilience. With insights on innovation, trust, and partnerships, the discussion will identify solutions to providing everyone with tools to build a secure financial future. Related Sites and Documents:  Investing in Financial Inclusion . Watch the Significance of the Seville Commitment | Goals Lounge! Meetings & Events

It is both a commitment and invitation to lead: a moment where the UN system affirms that transformation today is more necessary than ever, and that UN 2.0 is how we deliver our timeless mission in today's complex world. [Pre- recorded] The event anchors UN 2.0 in the core purposes of the UN - peace, development, and humanitarian action - while showing how modernization enables our teams to stay relevant, become more resilient, and work more effectively with shrinking resources. Related Sites and Documents: The Future is Ours to Build The Future is Ours to Build – A UN 2.0 Conversation at UNGA80 | Goals Lounge Meetings & Events

In a context of global uncertainty and rising threats to democratic values , amid distrust and social discontent , the second meeting of the "In Defense of Democracy: Fighting Against Extremism" initiative represents a critical opportunity to reaffirm shared commitments, promote innovative solutions, and strengthen multilateral cooperation. The objective of this initiative is to advance an active democratic diplomacy that fosters cooperation among like-minded democratic states in the face of institutional erosion, disinformation, hate speech, and growing social inequality. This platform seeks to articulate a collective response to the challenges facing contemporary democracies, starting from a diagnosis of the root causes of public discontent and distrust fueling extremism, and promoting concrete actions to revitalize democratic institutions, to counter extremist narratives, and to advance toward more just, inclusive, and cohesive societies. In this regard, the meeting, he...

High-level dialogue with political and business leaders on resilience, democracy, and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Watch democracy and Resilient Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: The Role of the Private Sector! Meetings & Events

Get a preview of the full health of the planet with the 2025 Planetary Health Check, and clarity on what these results mean for our planet and our future. Gain a better understanding of the intersections of our changing climate with national and global governance, the health of economies, security, and human health. Related Documents:  The Value and Values of Multilateralism  &  Vital Signs for a Healthy Planet Watch the Vital Signs for a Healthy Planet | Goals Lounge! Meetings & Events

Food waste is a climate, equity, and innovation issue. Join Massimo Bottura and Hamdi Ulukaya for a dynamic conversation on transforming surplus into sustenance—through community kitchens, upcycled products, and bold partnerships that nourish both people and planet. Related Sites and Documents:  The Value and Values of Multilateralism . Watch From Waste to Worth: Rethinking Food for People and Planet | Goals Lounge! Meetings & Events

As the United Nations turns 80, this moment invites reflection on multilateralism's future. [Pre-recorded] Amid global challenges, new opportunities emerge to reimagine cooperation. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and historian and author Thant Myint-U will explore how the UN can evolve to foster renewed international solidarity. Related Documents:  The Value and Values of Multilateralism  &  Solidarity in a Shifting World . Watch the Solidarity in a Shifting World | Goals Lounge! Meetings & Events

Amid rising inequality, climate impacts, and geopolitical shifts, global leaders are convening to reflect on the need for strengthened multilateralism and the UN's role today. Grounded in the Pact for the Future and eight decades of working together, the dialogue explores bold ideas and shared responsibility to protect multilateralism and a sustainable future. Related Documents:  The Value and Values of Multilateralism . Watch the Value and Values of Multilateralism | Goals Lounge! 01:53:32 Meetings & Events

  Key insights The decline in happiness and social trust in Europe and the US explains a large share of the rise in political polarisation and anti-system votes. Subjective attitudes such as life satisfaction and trust play a much greater role in shaping values and voting behaviour than traditional ideologies or class struggle. Unhappy people are attracted by the extremes of the political spectrum. Low-trust people are found more often on the far right, whereas high-trust people are more inclined to vote for the far left. We highlight the political implications of both the presence and absence of caring and sharing practices. During the last decade, Western countries have seen a cascade of anti-system political victories, from Brexit in 2015 to the election of Donald Trump in 2024. During this period, resentment of ‘the system’ has grown in most European countries, particularly in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Figure 7....

Rooted in the principle of "We the Peoples," this event will celebrate democracy as a living force for agency, hope, and cooperation. Democracy draws its strength from people: their voices, their choices, and their participation in shaping society. It flourishes when rights are protected, particularly for those most often left behind. In an era of shrinking civic space and rising disinformation , building trust, dialogue, and shared decision-making is more urgent than ever. Opening and Framing Democracy Always/In Defense of Democracy Deliberative Democracy Closing Watch Voice to Action: International Day of Democracy 2025 | Goals Lounge! Meetings & Events