World leaders are expected to gather for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
The high-level talks scheduled for September 19 to 23 and September 26 are scheduled to take place at the UN Headquarters in New York.
It provides the leaders and heads of state the opportunity to lay out their priorities for the coming year, urge cooperation on pressing issues and call out their adversaries.
“It is a one-of-a-kind moment each year for leaders from every corner of the globe to not only assess the state of the world but to act for the common good,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
"Action is what the world needs now."
The general debate will be under the theme 'Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.'
Given the diversity of speakers, the general debate usually covers a range of issues of regional and global interest.
Last year’s themes included efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and climate change which are expected to again figure prominently during this year’s event.
Heads of state and government will gather on September 19 to review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
They will also provide high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to the target year of 2030 for achieving the Goals.
The outcome will then be a negotiated political declaration.
On September 20, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will convene the Climate Ambition Summit with a call on every leader to step up.
"The UN chief urges individuals or organizations participating in the event to present credible, serious and new climate action and nature-based solutions that will move the needle forward and respond to the urgency of the climate crisis," the UN portal reads.
The President of the General Assembly in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) will convene to adopt a political declaration.
It will be aimed at mobilizing political will at the national, regional and international levels for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
African leaders attending the Africa Climate Summit from September 4 to 6 resolved to establish a new financing architecture that is responsive to Africa’s needs.
The leaders also agreed to develop a new Global Climate Finance Charter through the United National General Assembly (UNGA) and Conference to the Parties to the UN on Climate Change processes by 2025.
About 150 leaders are expected to attend the high-level talks, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, said late last week.
Among others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be there, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Both are expected to address the General Assembly and hold talks with Biden on the sidelines of the event.
The general debate comes two months before the United Nations’ climate summit, COP28 which will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.