The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-level week in New York, which is set to begin on September 22, convenes world leaders to debate some of the most pressing global issues.
This year marks the United Nations’s 80th anniversary, a moment for reflection on past achievements and a renewed commitment to a more inclusive and responsive multilateral system, the World Economic Forum said in a news report.
The high-level week, running until September 30, will feature a series of critical debates and summits, focusing on peace, climate action and the governance of emerging technologies.
The agenda is designed to address key challenges, from the persistent conflict in the Middle East to the accelerating climate crisis and the complex ethical questions raised by artificial intelligence.
Here are some of the agenda topics to look out for:
New push for a two-state solution
The UNGA is resuming a high-level conference on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution.
The conference, which started in July 2025, was co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.
The meeting was suspended previously due to the severe situation on the ground in Palestine.
On September 5, the General Assembly decided to resume the conference, aiming to “catalyse concrete, timebound and co-ordinated international action” towards peace, according to the UN website.
Discussions have focused on security, economic viability for a Palestinian state and humanitarian aid.
The New York Declaration, agreed in July, re-affirmed the commitment to an independent, sovereign Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel.
Launching the global dialogue on AI governance
Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance will be a central topic on September 25, with a high-level meeting to launch the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
The meeting, a result of General Assembly Resolution 79/325, will kick off a new UN-led discussion on creating inclusive and accountable AI governance.
It will bring together member states and various stakeholders to discuss their expectations for the dialogue, which is set to continue in 2026.
Experts from government and the technology sector will share their perspectives, with the overall goal of establishing a shared framework for a technology that is rapidly changing the world, according to the World Economic Forum and the UN website.
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Tackling NCDs, mental health
The UNGA will hold its Fourth High-level Meeting on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the promotion of mental health and wellbeing on September 25.
The meeting aims for Heads of States and Government to establish a new vision for addressing these global health challenges.
A key outcome is the adoption of a new Political Declaration that will provide an ambitious and achievable framework to accelerate global NCD prevention and control from 2025 onward.
The declaration calls for renewed commitment from member states and global partners to tackle the social, economic, commercial and environmental drivers of these health issues through strengthened whole-of-government and whole-of-society collaboration, according to the World Health Organisation.
Climate summit for renewed action
On September 24, the UN Secretary-General will host a special high-level event on climate action.
The summit is designed to encourage world leaders to present new national climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), ahead of COP30.
According to the United Nations, the goal is to accelerate momentum towards a “just, resilient, low-carbon future.”
The event will feature dialogues on a variety of topics, including early warning systems for extreme weather, climate change adaptation and the critical need for climate finance.
Other key discussions will focus on the role of non-state actors in achieving net-zero emissions and the importance of tackling climate disinformation.
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Geoffrey H. Latayan 
Vivien Bernardino