In our first edition of 2021, we list 17 major United Nations events to look out for this year. Please note that this is by no means an exhaustive list and a number of events were planned for 2020 and have been rescheduled to take place this year.
To kick off the year, on 28 January, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will address the General Assembly on the priorities of the organization in 2021, noting that a central ambition will be to build a global coalition for carbon neutrality – committing to net zero emissions by 2050. Watch out for it on UN WebTV. ( see second link below)

1. Adaptation Gap Report | 14 January

2. Launch of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2021 | 26 January

3. Commission on Social Development | 8 to 17 February

4. Commission on the Status of Women | 15 to 26 March

5. High-level Meeting on Water | 18 March

6. Financing for Development Report | April

7. Biodiversity Conference | 17 to 30 May

8. SDG Report | July

9. High-level Political Forum | 6 to 15 July

10. Ocean Conference | July (TBC)

11. High-level Week of the 76th Session of the General Assembly | 14 to 21 September

12. SDG Moment | September

13. High-level Dialogue on Energy | September

14. Food Systems Summit | September

15. Sustainable Transport Conference | TBC

16. UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) | 1 to 12 November

17. World Population Prospects | 15 November