81ST UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY OPENS TODAY IN NEW YORK FOCUSING ON CLIMATE CRISIS, MULTILATERALISM, AND PEACE

81ST UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY OPENS TODAY IN NEW YORK FOCUSING ON CLIMATE CRISIS, MULTILATERALISM, AND PEACE

Official opening features speeches by Secretary-General António Guterres and the presidents of Brazil and the United States.

Today marks the official start of the High-Level General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81), bringing together heads of state, government leaders, and diplomats from around the world at the organization's headquarters in New York.

The first day's program follows strict UN diplomatic protocol and is structured around the following core key points:

1. Speeches and Plenary Sessions

Official Opening: Opening remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of the 81st General Assembly, Khalilur Rahman.

 

Member States Tradition: Honoring historical tradition, Brazil delivers the opening speech among member states, followed by the address from the United States.

Rounds of Statements: Speeches are divided into the morning session (9:00 AM to 2:45 PM local time) and the afternoon session (3:00 PM to 9:00 PM local time), providing a platform for dozens of leaders to outline their international priorities.

 

2. Key Topics on Day One Agenda

Global Conflicts: High-level statements and positioning on developments in the Middle East and the search for solutions to the war in Ukraine.

 

Cooperation and Multilateralism: Debates focused on restoring international trust, a just energy transition, and the financial sustainability of the multilateral system.

 

Climate Preparatory Meetings: Behind-the-scenes negotiations and bilateral meetings to finalize declarations and targets for tomorrow's Climate Action and Just Transition Summit on September 23.

The General Debate continues throughout the week as the world's primary diplomatic stage for aligning global commitments.

About the United Nations General Assembly

The General Assembly is the main policy-making and deliberative organ of the UN, bringing together 193 Member States to deliberate on peace, international security, and sustainable development.