UNGA 76th Session Features a Climate Focus

The 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) is now well underway and is featuring significant discussion of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). As a part of the Decade of Action, a UN call to action initiated in 2020 to make reaching the Goals by 2030 a possibility, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened the second ever SDG Moment. The SDG Moment, which ran from 8 a.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST on September 20, featured a speech from Secretary-General Guterres, debate by UN officials on COVID-19, and a performance by BTS, a popular K-pop group.

Leading into the UNGA, Secretary-General Guterres aimed to strengthen multilateral efforts to achieve the SDGs by proposing a plan titled “Our Common Agenda.” This ‘Agenda’ includes making vaccine distribution more expansive and equitable, creating the conditions for sustainable recovery to help in the elimination of poverty, championing equal rights for women and girls, and committing to net zero emissions by 2050. In order to reach net-zero emissions, Mr. Guterres asked for member states to dedicate $100 billion to climate action, an amount that the UN estimates could cause a direct economic gain worth trillions of dollars.

Climate action remained the topic of discussion of discussion as world leaders addressed the assembly. Most notably, Zeljko Komsic, the chairman of the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, announced to the other leaders that “the climate crisis is no longer a warning situation.” President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar echoed this sentiment, “call[ing] upon each state to act in an equitable fashion and commensurate with their polluting activities.”

General debate is schedule to run from September 21 to September 27, featuring over 100 Heads of State. High-level events that will accompany the general debate include the UN’s first Food Systems Summit on September 23, the High-Level Dialogue on Energy on September 24, and the High-Level Event on Jobs and Social Protection for Poverty Elimination on September 28. Each of these events will include a focus on how states can work to achieve the SDGs.

To watch the UNGA general debate, click here for the UN’s live feed.

Illinois Passes Comprehensive Clean Energy Bill

On September 15, 2021, Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois signed a comprehensive clean energy bill into law, making Illinois the first state in the Midwest to set climate goals for phasing out coal and natural gas. The omnibus bill received support from both environmental groups, who endorse the law’s emphasis on decarbonization, and union groups, who support the law’s protections of unionized labor.

While not explicitly mentioned in discussions surrounding the law, the law will work to further three of the sustainable development goals: Ensuring access to affordable and sustainable energy (Goal 7), reducing inequality (Goal 10), and taking urgent action to combat climate change (Goal 13).

To ensure access to affordable and sustainable energy, the law requires that 40 percent of the state’s energy be carbon free by 2030, 50 percent be carbon free by 2040, and 100 percent be carbon free by 2050. While residential electric bills are expected to increase by about three to four percent in the short-term, the government is subsidizing three nuclear power plants over the next five years and increasing annual nuclear energy subsidies by more than $350 million. In an effort to increase the number of electric vehicles in the state, the state government will also be providing a $4,000 rebate to all Illinoisans purchasing an electric vehicle starting next July.

In an effort to reduce inequality, the law establishes a Clean Jobs Workforce Network program under the supervision of the Department of Commerce and Economic opportunity. This program will provide job training, focusing on Black and Latinx populations in Illinois. Training will extend to the formerly incarcerated who are interested in pursuing a career in the renewable energy field. The law also creates a Jobs and Justice Fund to ensure the equitable distribution of any economic benefits that result from this transition to cleaner energy.

Upon signing the bill, Gov. Pritzker announced, “We can’t outrun or hide from climate change… There is no time to lost but what we can do, what we must do – and thanks to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act – Illinois is doing, is to fight, to stop, and even reverse the damage that’s been done to our climate.” While Illinois is the first in the Midwest, and among the first in the United States generally, to pass such a sweeping climate and labor bill, it is likely far from being the last.

To learn more about the climate crisis in the U.S., click here.

To see the full text of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, click here.

“Reinvigorating Inclusive Multilateralism: Business Town Hall”

The 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 76): “Reinvigorating Inclusive Multilateralism: Business Town Hall” took place on September 20th from 1 - 2:30 pm EST. This event brought together industry leaders to discuss routes to achieve the global sustainability agenda, including international cooperation and encouraging the private sector to align with global business and provide solutions using inclusive multilateralism. Speakers also raised questions about the resilience of the United Nations and values of democracy, rule of law, inclusive societies, and the treatment of workers. 

This event, which was organized by the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), Business at OECD (BIAC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE), was extremely successful in stimulating innovative and productive conversations about the future of government and policy changes surrounding climate change, Covid-19, and multilateralism. USCIB’s Norine Kennedy moderated a thoughtful conversation with Robin Oglivy, the Special Representative and Permanent Observer of OECD to the UN, and Ester Baiget, the CEO of Novozymes and USCIB Trustee Sustainability Champion, who pointed out an unsettling and rather large gap between words and actions regarding policy targeted toward environmental justice. 

The event also highlighted the responsibility companies, citizens, and the government hold, not only to shareholders, but to our communities, future generations, and the planet we live on. Government, businesses, and citizens all have key parts to play in reaching global net-zero goals, reducing mental health related to climate change, achieving and incentivising sustainability, and working toward a cleaner future.

This session included a series of “Fireside Chats,” which featured three priority topics, determined by the General Assembly. USCIB’s Brian Lowry moderated a discussion of climate change which featured Michele Parmelee, the president of the IOE and Deputy CEO and Chief People & Purpose Officer of Deloitte. 

This interdisciplinary discussion also included the topics of human rights and pandemic response and recovery, featuring guest speakers such as USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson, Microsoft Vice President of UN Affairs John Frank, and Dr. Scott Ratzan, the Executive Director of Business Partners for Sustainable Development. These moderated discussions, including esteemed industry leaders and scholars, facilitated conversations about business engagement and innovation in conjunction with this overarching theme of multilateralism and how to promote it.