The UN General Assembly brings world leaders together in New York this week, with meetings on Monday focusing on accelerating efforts to achieve global development goals.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said ahead of Monday's session that only 15% of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are on track to be achieved by 2030.
"Monday's SDG summit will be the moment for governments to come to the table with concrete plans and proposals to accelerate progress," Guterres said.
The goals include ending poverty, ending hunger, ensuring access to affordable energy, taking urgent action to combat climate change, and promoting gender equality.
A July report said the impacts of the climate crisis, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and a weak global economy have undermined progress towards achieving development goals.
US President Joe Biden is among the presidents, prime ministers and monarchs from 145 countries scheduled to address the General Assembly session, which begins on Tuesday. Biden will deliver his address on Tuesday, as will Guterres.
The leaders of Britain, China, France and Russia will not attend, with lower-ranking ministers representing their countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the meeting on Tuesday and will participate in a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.
Guterres said he would tell leaders that this is not the time for "positioning or posturing."
“This is a time to come together for real and practical solutions,” Guterres said. “It is a time for compromise for a better tomorrow.” /VOA/
