World leaders are gathering in New York in September for the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with a spotlight on our urgent global challenges in the context of a worldwide economic disruption caused by conflicts and geopolitical instability.
Amid these tensions, the 2026 UNGA is a critical moment in the international climate calendar to revitalise global cooperation and multilateralism, with a key focus on the intensifying climate risks. The UNGA will be complemented by New York Climate Week (NYCW) - which runs from 20-27 September.
Outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to make climate a central part of his legacy, declaring "the world stands at a juncture where joint leadership, not division, can save the planet."
Guterres will host a High-Level Event on Climate Action and the Just Transition - a summit that comes after the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a groundbreaking report declaring the world will overshoot the 1.5°C global warming threshold within the next few years.
Overshooting 1.5°C - a limit leaders committed to pursuing in the Paris Agreement - will worsen extreme weather impacts and intensify the risks of climate change. This prospect makes this year's UNGA a pivotal moment for political leaders to respond.
The UNGA High-Level Week 2026 will run from 18 September 2026 to 28 September 2026 and Greenpeace will be covering the UNGA with a live blog, bringing you regular updates and insights. Check back here for rolling updates throughout the coming week.
Aaron Gray-Block is International Climate Political Communications Specialist at Greenpeace International.
