UN logo in New York (Photo: REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado)

The three-week session themed “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights”, will discuss global peace and security, the global response to climate change, and national roadmaps to implement SDGs.

A major test for the UN

The highlight will be the General Assembly High-level Week from September 22-30, whose events will include the UN’s 80^th anniversary conference (September 22), the SDG Moment (September 22), the Climate Summit (September 24), the High-level Meeting to announce the Global Dialogue on AI Governance (September 25), and the general debate from September 23-27 and September 29.

Other notable events include the 30th anniversary of the World Program of Action for Youth (September 25), the commemoration of International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (September 26), and the first biennial summit on the sustainability, inclusiveness, and resilience of the global economy.

UNGA-80 will be a major test of the UN’s role as the world’s largest and most important multilateral forum for fostering dialogue and cooperation among nations, safeguarding peace and security, and setting global governance norms.

It will show whether UN members are truly committed to turning the ambitious goals of the Pact for the Future, adopted last year, into reality.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “We identified how important it is cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and in the digital world. Not only cooperation among developed countries, but cooperation to allow developing countries also to be part of the benefits of Artificial Intelligence. On the other hand, climate of course is an area of extraordinary importance and we live in a moment in which the transition to renewables is demonstrating that renewables are the cheapest and the most effective way to produce energy. On the other hand, we are pushing for a new agenda for peace and a new agenda for peace means dialogue, means cooperation, means that different cultures and different civilizations can work together.”

In order to achieve the ambitious goals of UNGA-80, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on August 26 to establish an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, which is mandated to publish assessments of the opportunities, risks, and impacts of AI to help countries make decisions about this transformative technology. On September 3, the UN urged countries to quickly submit climate protection roadmaps so their commitments will be included in the Global Climate Action Report to be released at the Climate Summit on September 24.

While there are high expectations for breakthroughs on AI governance, SDG implementation, and climate commitments, UNGA-80 also risks deep divisions due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts, particularly the Gaza conflict and Palestinian statehood.

Ahead of the General Assembly, some Western countries, including the UK, France, Belgium, and Canada, said they will recognize the State of Palestine during this session. This marks a shift in the external policies of countries traditionally seen as Israel’s close allies that reflects growing concern and frustration over the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel’s continuation of large-scale military operations there.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said: “France is prepared to fully recognize the State of Palestine, and will do so. This recognition, a major decision by France, expresses a refusal, and also contains a call. Refusing to see the side of war standing victorious over that of peace.”

The plan to recognize a Palestinian state faces strong headwinds. On August 29, the US administration said it will not allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to attend UNGA-80 in New York with other world leaders. 80 other Palestinians have had their visa refused or revoked. The US State Department justified this action by accusing Palestine of undermining peace prospects in the Middle East, an explanation which was strongly rejected by many European countries.

The US stance has further complicated its relationship with the UN, after President Trump cut US funding for the UN, withdrew the US from several UN bodies, and even threatened to leave the organization.

Martin Jacques, former Senior Fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies at Cambridge University, said: “The body that could be threatened by this America's relationship with the United Nations. We'll have to see what happens. I think that it would be very unfortunate and a negative development if America decides that it doesn't want to be part of the United Nations. This would be a very big, big question indeed, but hopefully it won't come to this.”

European leaders will meet with President Trump in Washington this week to discuss the Ukraine conflict and other UNGA-80 issues.