Photograph: Oxfam/Guardian
The global goals looked challenging enough in 2015. Two years later, amid political earthquakes, tightening budgets and manmade disasters, there is a wide agreement that achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) will require nothing less than a transformative approach.
Where to begin? Join the Guardian for an afternoon of thought-provoking discussion and real world examples on Tuesday 19 September in New York. This will be the third edition of our annual side event to the UN general assembly focusing on the SDGs.
Keynote talks and panel discussions will explore these questions, among others:
- How can we make progress on the goals despite financial constraints?
- How can economies develop when traditional manufacturing jobs are under threat from automation?
- Taking climate change seriously in testing times: who is leading the way?
- How can education prepare the youth bulge to have a positive impact on societies in the coming decades?
Details
Date: Tuesday 19 September
Time: 2pm-6pm
Location: Midtown venue tbc, New York City
Programme
2pm Registration, networking reception and documentary showcase
2.30pm Welcome address, John Mulholland, interim editor, Guardian US
2.45pm Keynote address, Jeffrey Sachs, director, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
3.00pm Keynote address, Winnie Byanyima, executive director, Oxfam International - Making the case for aid
3.15 pm Panel discussion: How can automation and smart cities support the SDGs?
The UN predicts that as many of two thirds of jobs in the developing world could be lost to robots. Underemployment is already a huge challenge; how can we mitigate against this? Could automation and smart-cities technology support the response to climate change? Will automation aid or obstruct the SDGs? And how much responsibility should big business take?
Panellists tbc
3.50pm Panel discussion: They’re in school but are they learning? Exploring the most effective ways to spend the global education budget
Significant gains have been made since the millennium development goal era on getting primary school children into school around the world. Now the work is to ensure that they stay in school until young adulthood, and receive a quality education which not only teaches the basics but ensures prosperous livelihoods.
Panellists tbc
4.40pm Keynote address tbc
4.55 pm Closing remarks
5pm-6pm Networking and documentary showcase
How to get involved
This event is aimed at all professionals working towards the implementation of the SDGs, whether you work for government, an NGO, a grassroots or civil society organisation or in the private sector. Register your interest by filling in the form below by Friday 8 September.
While this is a free event, please be aware that space is limited and priority will be given to those who meet the criteria above.
