From Rhetoric to Reality: UN hosts 2021 SDG Action Zone

The SDG Action Zone is back this year for its third edition during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 22-24, 2021, from 8am-12pm EST/12pm-4pm GMT,  the United Nations (UN) said today. The three-day virtualflagship event will bring together UN leaders, creatives, leaders, and activists from acrossgender, geography, and generations to engage in conversations and propose solutions totoday’s most pressing issues: Poverty and Inequalities, Gender, and Climate. Everyone, everywhere is invited to tune in and participate by registering at https://sdgactionzone.org.

The world is on fire and under threat by an invisible virus. People everywhere are demanding abetter future. While the current moment of man-made global crises poses great risks, it alsooffers the opportunity for sweeping systemic changes. The SDG Action Zone will addresstoday’s biggest headlines and untold stories alike; and our speakers will show, and not just tell.

“Inclusion is the key to holding ourselves accountable,” said Amina J. Mohammed, UnitedNations Deputy Secretary-General. “Diversity is essential to leave no one behind as weseek new ideas from a variety of voices. These voices, in the SDG Action Zone, ensure the strength of the orchestra that will deliver a symphony for the Sustainable Development Goals.”

This is more than just another virtual event. The new website and virtual platform is optimizedwith the participant’s experience at its heart, with many opportunities to engage. To combatvirtual meeting fatigue, the event will feature short, bold conversations that will inspire less talk,and more action to keep the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals. Each session willbe made available to watch and share on demand so attendees can share important insightswith their networks and continue the conversation throughout the year.

The SDG Action Zone is all about how we are moving from rhetoric to reality - away fromgrandiose commitments and towards a more inclusive, fair, and green recovery. It will highlightecosystem-wide solutions, plans, and investments needed to create change that sticks andpositively impacts people’s lives and the planet. And the event draws on some of the most inspiring voices of our era that will highlight not just the incremental actions you can do - but what we must do, as systems and societies, together- to pave the way for a better future for all.

The SDG Action Zone’s program will feature:

• Three days of reality checks and reimagining - The program digs deep into important conversations, always focused on action. Each day is framed around three core areas of the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs: Poverty and Inequalities, Gender, and Climate.
• Global representation of people and perspectives - Diversity and representation are at the centre of our program. We’re bringing together the highest levels of UN leadership, boldest activists, committed governments, innovative business leaders, changemakers, and disruptors from around the world.The speaker lineup includes the likes of DeRay McKesson, Ilwad Elman, and Jamie Margolin.
• Creative performances - World renowned musicians and spoken word artists will take the stage and leave viewers energised and ready to fight the good fight.

“This is an urgent moment for humanity, and it needs to be approached with radicaltransparency,” said Mohammed. “The SDG Action Zone is not a place for glossy talking points:the speakers and moderators will not shy away from what is most important. This is your chanceto be part of unexpected conversations, shake things up, and showcase what’s possible.”

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

For more information, video, or to schedule interviews, please contacthello@sdgactionzone.org

Promotional assets can be downloaded here.

Watch or download the event teaser video here.

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About the UN SDG Action Zone

The SDG Action Zone is a yearly event taking place during the High-level Week that brings the UN to the world, and the world to the UN. For more information, to view the full program and speaker lineup, and to register to attend, please visit https://sdgactionzone.org.

About United Nations Office for Partnerships

The United Nations Office for Partnerships serves as the global gateway to catalyse and co-create collaborations that accelerate solutions to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Office mobilises stakeholders, engaging public sector, civil society, the private sector, academia and philanthropic and other entities in the work of the United Nations system. To keep the promise of “leaving no one behind” and to fulfil its mandate, the United Nations Office for Partnerships leverages expertise and networks across its teams and initiatives, which include Sustainable Development Goals advocacy, engagement and mobilisation. The Office engages global actors to work with the United Nations in support of the achievement of theSustainable Development Goals through the SDG Strategy Hub.

About the Sustainable Development Goals

On 25 September 2015, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, 193 world leaderscommitted to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (or Global Goals). These are a series ofambitious objectives and targets to end extreme poverty and hunger, fight inequality andinjustice, and tackle climate change, by 2030.