Other meetings & events

Environmental leaders from 185 countries are gathering in Vancouver, Canada for the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility from August 22-26. Building on recent diplomatic breakthroughs on biodiversity loss, toxic chemicals, and the high seas, the GEF Assembly will be a critical stocktaking for 2030 goals to end pollution and nature loss, combat climate change, and propel inclusive, locally-led conservation. It is set to include the launch of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, a new source of funding for protecting species and ecosystems globally. The GEF was selected to manage the new fund at the COP15 Convention on Biological Diversity summit in December 2022 and its governing Council approved plans for this in June 2023 in Brasilia. The Assembly will bring together ministers, government officials, business leaders, environmentalists, leaders of international agencies and environmental conventions along with representatives of youth groups, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples to discuss solutions to ensure a healthy planet with healthy people. Visit the official Seventh GEF Assembly website for more details such as confirmed speakers, multimedia content, and logistical information.

How can resilient water infrastructure help address land degradation, biodiversity loss, food insecurity and climate impacts? During World Water Week 2023, join us on Sunday, 20 August, join us to explore new multi-country and multi-sectoral ways of collaboration and financing for drought resilience and on Monday 21 August to discuss innovative solutions for water security. We'll be showcasing initiatives for capacity building, resource mobilization, policy, and tools to strengthen drought resilience in the region of Southern Africa: More info: worldwaterweek.org/tickets

On 12 July, the world commemorates the first International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms (SDS), which aims to raise global awareness of the growing health and environmental challenges posed by SDS. The commemoration follows a resolution adopted by the General Assembly on June 8, 2023. Events are held around the world to highlight the urgency of this environmental crisis, largely caused by human-induced climate change, desertification, land degradation and drought. The “Commemoration of the International Day of Combatting Sand and Dust Storms” event, co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Senegal at the United Nations in New York, features various speakers from organizations collaborating in the UN SDS Coalition. At the same time, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) hosts a series of regional webinars bringing together stakeholders from different regions. The UNCCD will launch the SDS toolbox on this day.

The 2023 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, takes place on 10 to 19 July at UN Headquarters in New York to drive transformative action on sustainable development.  On Monday, 10 July 2023 at 12:30 pm New York EDT, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) will launch The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023: Special edition | Toward a Rescue Plan for People and Planet, which sounds an alarm and provides an overview of the world’s inadequate progress toward meeting targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, calling for a rescue plan. The report will be launched by Mr. LI Junhua, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General. He will be joined by Ms. Yongyi Min, Chief, Sustainable Development Goals Monitoring Section, UN DESA’s Statistics Division and Ms. Astra Bonini, Senior Sustainable Development Officer, UN DESA’s Division for Sustainable Development Goals. A High-level Event Call to Action will take place Monday, 10 July 2023 at 1:30 to highlight the launch of the Special Edition report and provide a platform for leaders to share their insights and calls to action for accelerating progress towards the SDGs and implementing a rescue plan for people and the planet. To watch a live broadcast of the launch, go to: http://webtv.un.org

A scientific practical conference on desertification, land degradation and drought will explore key issues under the convention and their solutions through sustainable land management, land degradation neutrality and early drought action, as well as sand and dust storms mitigation. Representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Russia, Belarus, Georgia and Moldova will provide country-specific and regional insights, highlighting the key role of secure rights to land as the catalyst for engaging women in good land stewardship.