Category: United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Hybrid Press Briefing by Ms. Annalena Baerbock, outgoing President of the United Nations General Assembly, on her tenure and the way forward.

Outgoing General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock described international law as “life insurance”, urging countries to uphold it amid global challenges, while emphasizing that courage is “infectious” for collective action.

As her term as the President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly coming to an end, Baerbock said that besides all the headwinds during the Session, and besides all the fragmented times out in the world, “here inside the building, Member States were more united then divided.”

The President of the august Hall highlighted the Session opened “a new, entirely chapter for the United Nations in the field of AI.”

She said, “for the first time ever, an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI was established, composed not only from experts from all around the world, but also for the first time in gender parity.”

On UN reform, Baerbock said, “we need less bureaucracy, and we need to be way more effective and efficient in a digitalized world. And this is why implementing UN80 reform measures was, besides protecting the Charter, my second priority of my presidency.”

Asked about the selection of the new UN chief, the President of the General Assembly said, “because the choice UN makes about the 10th Secretary-General will send a message about whether this Organization truly represents the people it is meant to serve.”

She added, “Who leads this Organization matters not only to the people in this building, but to billions of people around the world,” urging the “continuation of this spirit of openness and scrutiny through the final stages of the selection and appointment process of the next Secretary-General.”

Asked about UNRWA, the President of the General Assembly said, “I had always have a very clear stance on the support of UNRWA,” calling on Member States “not only to underline that UN premises have a special protection, as the SG did as well, but also call on Sember States to fund UNRWA, because otherwise, not only was the situation in Gaza, but also with neighboring countries, be it Jordan, be it Syria, be it Lebanon, we are not delivering on what we are promising here.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNL7SUKFbe4

Source: United Nations (video statements)

UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu told the Council today (03 Sep) that the OPCW’s May 2026 deployment led to the discovery of previously undeclared chemical weapons, prompting Syria to submit amendments to its initial declaration in June.

“The Syrian Arab Republic declared one additional chemical weapons production facility, a newly discovered chemical used in the production of nerve agents, and empty chemical munitions,” Nakamitsu said. “It also declared two chemical weapons storage facilities, where the newly discovered materials were being stored.”

She said an OPCW team deployed to Syria in August to verify the destruction of Category 3 chemical weapons, conducting Article IV verification activities at storage and destruction facilities.

“The OPCW verified that inventories matched recent declarations by the Syrian Arab Republic and verified the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs,” she said.

“This significant development means that for the first time since 2014, the OPCW has verified the destruction of chemical munitions from the Syrian Arab Republic,” Nakamitsu said. “As reported by the OPCW Director-General, this is a result of the close collaboration between the Syrian government and the OPCW Technical Secretariat.”

Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, called the operation “a historic moment – the start of the destruction of some of the chemical materials found in Syria, as part of the verification procedures of the Technical Secretariat” of the OPCW.

“This is the first destruction operation since Syria’s liberation from the former regime, but it is also the first destruction of chemical munitions on Syrian soil in more than a decade,” he said, adding that it proved a file that for years was “a source of danger to Syrians and to the world” but could become “a model of what diplomacy – coupled with resolve, sincere will and a spirit of international cooperation – can achieve on the ground.”

The cooperation, he said, amounted to “a deep political shift in Syria’s approach to salvaging the multilateral system."

Olabi said repeated Israeli attacks had obstructed search-and-destruction operations, halting them entirely at points and forcing the cancellation of flights, putting Syrian national teams, OPCW teams and the sites being secured at risk.

“We cannot safeguard the region’s security while our own security is under threat from Israel,” he said. “Nor can we safeguard the international system while Israel rides roughshod over international law.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37uB-y03JtE

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

– UN80 Initiative
– U.N. System Staff College / U.N. Institute for Training and Research Merger
– Nepal
– Lebanon
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Security Council / Syria
– Madagascar
– World Meteorological Organization / El Niño Report
– UN Trade and Development / Report
– Financial Contribution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTApZU6KlpM

Source: United Nations (video statements)

The Security Council was briefed on progress in efforts to dismantle Syria’s chemical weapons programme, including the verified destruction of 42 aerial bombs. The briefing also highlighted newly discovered chemical weapons and the continuing need to identify and hold accountable those responsible for their use.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Z8yvz0S_h-E

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Writer, lecturer, political activist, and feminist organizer Gloria Steinem denounces violence against women in a speech at UN Headquarters. Utilizing material from the UN Audiovisual Library, this production showcases a major force in the feminist movement taking her message to the global stage. https://www.unmultimedia.org/avlibrary/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciwGMXPJFeM

Source: United Nations (video statements)

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen spoke to reporters today (2 Sep) via video link from Nairobi. She introduced the Programme’s new report, Limiting Overshoot, which identifies an ‘overshoot, peak, and decline’ pathway as the best remaining option to minimize the magnitude and duration of this overshoot and try to return to below 1.5°C as soon as possible.

Andersen said, “this report tells us that global temperature rise is set to cross the 1.5°C above pre-industrial level, and thereby crossing what the world agreed during the Paris Agreement talks in 2015, and this will likely be taking place within the next few years.”

“This is the legacy of our own inaction,” she emphasized, adding “across the globe, extreme heat waves are already proving that climate impacts will strike faster, hit harder and last longer, costing more lives and causing deeper disruptions.”

The Executive Director warned, “above 1.5°C, we can expect an intensification of extreme weather, of glacier melt, of ecosystem loss, and of sea level rise and human health and food and water security. Cities and infrastructure will come under increasing strain.”

Andersen underscored the options, she said “how to – by getting on a so-called overshoot peak and decline pathway, how to make that journey. And that means keeping the peak as low as possible and keeping the peak as short as possible, and then working very hard to bring the temperature back down as quickly as possible. Structure will come under increasing strain.”

The UNEP chief reiterated, “the quickest and most effective way that we can do this is by accelerating transition away from fossil fuels, delivering deep cuts to CO2, methane and other greenhouse gas gases obviously.”

She added, “Addressing key sectors, obviously energy, but also cooling and energy efficiency, demand and supply side reform will remain important. And this will determine how long the overshoot lasts and whether we are able to bring that temperature back down.”

Andersen highlighted, “we need stronger political will and stronger multilateralism. We need more agile and inclusive governance. We need to consider equity and justice, because that has to be at the core of all actions. And we will, of course, need much more finance. Countries with greater historical responsibility for climate change should do the most work.”

“The future will bring many unknowns, but we do know that decisions taken now will determine if we have a chance of returning to 1.5 or below,” Executive Director said, reiterating, “every fraction of a degree avoided, every year by which the overshoot is shortened, and every adaptation action taken will save lives, will protect ecosystems, and reduce economic losses.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFDKGPHHGS0

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

– Climate Report/Overshoot
– Iran
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Syria
– Nepal
– Sudan
– Democratic Republic Of The Congo
– Ukraine
– Nicaragua
– Briefings/Tomorrow
– Financial Contribution

CLIMATE REPORT/OVERSHOOT

In a video message on the launch of the latest UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report, called “Limiting Overshoot: Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return”, the Secretary-General noted that humanity is speeding past the limit to avoid climate catastrophe. He pointed out that we are set to breach the 1.5 degree limit within the next few years, and this summer’s scorching heat, raging wildfires and deadly floods are a warning of what lies ahead.

The Secretary-General warned that every fraction of a degree will cost lives, will destroy livelihoods, will deepen

inequality and push ecosystems closer to irreversible damage. He stressed that we must make the overshoot as small and short as possible, limiting how high temperatures rise and how long they remain above 1.5, and that the fight for 1.5 degrees is the fight for humanity.

IRAN

The Secretary-General is gravely concerned by the renewed exchanges of fire overnight between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by reports of civilian casualties, including in a strike that reportedly hit a wedding ceremony in Iran. The Secretary-General condemns all attacks against civilians. He recalls that all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.

As we have seen, few countries in the region are immune from this escalation, with airspace and critical shipping routes continuing to be heavily impacted.

The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate cessation of military action and urges all concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from actions and rhetoric that could further escalate already high tensions.

Further escalation, as you can imagine, would have devastating consequences for civilians and for the wider region and beyond.

The Middle East escalation has had a devastating impact on civilians and added further pressure on humanitarian needs and operations across the region and beyond. In a region already facing many humanitarian crises, this risks further deterioration at a time when humanitarian operations are already overstretched and underfunded, as we tell you repeatedly. Despite the challenges, we and our humanitarian partners continue to respond with life-saving assistance wherever we can, and whenever we can.

The Secretary-General urges the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran to return urgently to diplomacy. A comprehensive and durable settlement can be achieved only through dialogue and negotiations.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-09-02

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OvjOV4_z20

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

– Climate Report/Overshoot
– Iran
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Syria
– Nepal
– Sudan
– Democratic Republic Of The Congo
– Ukraine
– Nicaragua
– Briefings/Tomorrow
– Financial Contribution

CLIMATE REPORT/OVERSHOOT

In a video message on the launch of the latest UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report, called “Limiting Overshoot: Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return”, the Secretary-General noted that humanity is speeding past the limit to avoid climate catastrophe. He pointed out that we are set to breach the 1.5 degree limit within the next few years, and this summer’s scorching heat, raging wildfires and deadly floods are a warning of what lies ahead.

The Secretary-General warned that every fraction of a degree will cost lives, will destroy livelihoods, will deepen

inequality and push ecosystems closer to irreversible damage. He stressed that we must make the overshoot as small and short as possible, limiting how high temperatures rise and how long they remain above 1.5, and that the fight for 1.5 degrees is the fight for humanity.

IRAN

The Secretary-General is gravely concerned by the renewed exchanges of fire overnight between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by reports of civilian casualties, including in a strike that reportedly hit a wedding ceremony in Iran. The Secretary-General condemns all attacks against civilians. He recalls that all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.

As we have seen, few countries in the region are immune from this escalation, with airspace and critical shipping routes continuing to be heavily impacted.

The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate cessation of military action and urges all concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from actions and rhetoric that could further escalate already high tensions.

Further escalation, as you can imagine, would have devastating consequences for civilians and for the wider region and beyond.

The Middle East escalation has had a devastating impact on civilians and added further pressure on humanitarian needs and operations across the region and beyond. In a region already facing many humanitarian crises, this risks further deterioration at a time when humanitarian operations are already overstretched and underfunded, as we tell you repeatedly. Despite the challenges, we and our humanitarian partners continue to respond with life-saving assistance wherever we can, and whenever we can.

The Secretary-General urges the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran to return urgently to diplomacy. A comprehensive and durable settlement can be achieved only through dialogue and negotiations.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-09-02

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OvjOV4_z20

Source: United Nations (video statements)

This month, world leaders will convene at United Nations Headquarters in New York for the largest annual gathering in global diplomacy—the high-level week of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), happening 21-25 September. Amid mounting global challenges, UN Member States will participate in the UNGA’s 81st session, debating a broad agenda and seeking solutions to keep the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in reach by 2030. Here are some of the key moments to look out for this month and beyond.

UNGA High-level Week 2026: https://www.un.org/en/high-level-week-2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4R4228_7F0

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Remarks by Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, on behalf of António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on Nuclear Testing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0Z1UV58GoI