The High-level Week of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) concluded, with 190 speakers, including 76 Heads of State, 50 Heads of Government, four Vice-Presidents, five Deputy Prime Ministers, 48 Ministers, and seven Heads of Delegations having addressed the UNGA during the General Debate. UNGA President Csaba Kőrösi identified common themes that signal Member States’ priorities, challenges, and concerns going forward.

Addressing the Assembly at the closing of the General Debate, the UNGA President highlighted the following five messages:

• Humanity has entered a new era, with complex challenges and multi-layered crises marking a “paradigm shift,” accompanied by “significant transformations in the making.”
• The war in Ukraine should end, amidst growing concerns about shortages, inflation, refugees, nuclear safety, and the dangers of misinformation and propaganda. Kőrösi noted that the war in Ukraine is but one of nearly 30 armed conflicts worldwide, “[a]nd none of them is improving.”
• Climate change is “gradually destroying us,” and so are the unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, with Member States calling for: global net zero; assistance to countries most affected by climate change; climate justice; and honoring commitments.
• There is a need to improve the state of human rights and meet the needs of those most vulnerable to exploitation as “[d]iversity is a strength, not a liability.”
• There is a need to modernize the UN, revitalize the General Assembly, and reform the Security Council to “reflect the realities of this century. ”

Kőrösi emphasized that there is agreement on the main challenges, and “we need to build on what unites us” to seek solutions through solidarity, sustainability, and science.

In order to deepen solidarity, we must build trust. 

— UNGA President Csaba Kőrösi

The UNGA President indicated that he plans to “launch a series of consultations with many actors, including the scientific community … to strengthen universally accepted and owned foundation for action.” He also “look[ed] ahead to further preparations for the UN Water Conference, the Sendai Midterm review and the SDG Summit” in 2023.

The General Debate ran from 20-26 September 2022. It was part of the UNGA High-level Week, along with other high-level events, including the SDG Moment, the Transforming Education Summit, and the Leaders’ Roundtable on Climate Action. [UNGA President’s Remarks at Closing of UNGA General Debate] [UN News Story] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story about UNGA 77 Opening]