Saving the World at UNGA

Ten take-aways from me on the busy week of activities in and around the United Nations in New York City last week for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

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1)????? For the many (tens of) thousands of people that took part in activities last week – from the multilateral organizations, Governments, the private sector, and non-profit / social sector it was a mostly an energizing and productive week. Real work got done, initiatives on climate, sustainability and other social impact goals were progressed, agreements signed, collaborations started, and commitments made that will translate into impact on the ground.

2)????? The private sector showed up in New York in a strong and concerted way. A few years ago, the UNGA meetings took place largely without the presence of large, powerful multinationals and business leaders. Now they are there in force and the idea that the biggest global challenges we face can only be solved with close partnership and collaboration with the private sector is accepted wisdom. Our CEO from Mastercard was invited to speak at the UN Security Council just ahead of UNGA on how the private sector and technology can help address humanitarian and development crises. Apple released its incredible sustainability video featuring its CEO Tim Cook just ahead of UNGA. But there were too many still missing including many businesses and organizations with a crucial role to play. There is no price to be paid for skipping UNGA.

3)????? This was not a globally galvanizing moment. While there were some strong, influential voices including from the world of politics, arts, entertainment, and philanthropy, some great creativity on display - and a measure of media attention, the world wasn’t paying a lot of attention. Even on the NYC subway, below the traffic clogged streets, life was continuing obliviously. How can we break out of the bubble in this information saturated, polarized, and low-trust environment and achieve deeper, broader and sustained public engagement?

4)????? Technology and particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) was part of almost every conversation. How we can harness AI in support of positive social impact and sustainability and manage the very real risks was on the minds of many.

5)????? There was a huge array of technical expertise on AI assembled at UNGA, from Google/Deep Mind, Microsoft, scientists, Institutes and think tanks. This is still a learning process for almost everyone, building a new mental frame and understanding what this technology can and can’t do. Everyone, from leaders, policy makers and regulators to students and workers need to understand it better and have a voice in making sure this technology works for the benefit of all of us, everywhere. Spoiler alert, there is not a good track record here in recent years with the technology fueled increase in concentration of power.

6)????? There is a growing amount of low-value and non-substantive stuff happening around the UNGA gathering and that is not going to change. At best, the countless dinners, parties, and nightcaps are a distraction and perhaps a waste of resources at a time when those present usually want to model a different sort of behavior. At worst they risk fueling the cynicism that has manifested in the so- called ESG backlash, at least in the US. Caveat: I am getting older and grumpier and perhaps you should ignore this point altogether. PS. I learned a new phrase from an actual Princess: JOMO = the joy of missing out. Add: I really enjoyed the dinners I went to .... !!

7)????? The geopolitical tensions and fragmentation were evident is this year’s UNGA. President Biden was there – gridlocking the traffic – but no President Xi, Prime Minister Modi and many other notable absences. Maybe this should be number 1. If this isn’t the right forum to come together to address existential challenges that threat our lives and planet, then where is?

8)????? Money is the answer, what’s the question? Everything contemplated and discussed at UNGA revolves around finance and resources. The new World Bank President Ajay Banga was a strong presence at UNGA along with some of his peers at other multilateral development banks and of course the private sector that needs to be seen as a provider of expertise as much as funds. ?Bill and Melinda Gates were both there (separately) and other major philanthropists like Michael Bloomberg. But the UN system is mostly cash starved and struggling to meet immediate humanitarian needs. Maybe this partly answers 7. The climate COP in Dubai and the World Bank / IMF Annual Meetings in Morocco are next up where financing will rightly be front and center.

9)????? There’s agreement and acceptance we are not any close to being on course to achieve the 2030 SDG’s. (At around 15% - 20% currently). On one level, it is great to we can measure and stay accountable on the figures. We were supporters of a fantastically creative campaign (thank you Kate Garvey Annemarie Hou and Project Everyone ) to make the point that every game can be turned round at half-time. It was a strong rallying cry and taken up by many. Yet, at what point do we accept these goals are perhaps just aspirational and motivational, or alternatively start to see disappointment and resignation build at our collective failure to meet them. Reasonable people can disagree.

10)?? Despite all the challenges I finished UNGA week feeling part of a powerful, vibrant and inspirational community speaking with more honesty and accountability that it ever has on the challenges we are facing. Thank you to friends, colleagues and partners including: Emily Anderson Jennifer Hauseman Cheryl Gordon Karem Coronel Jack Hind Smith Alisdair Haythornthwaite Stacy Day Shanna Crumley Ellen Jackowski Stuart McLaughlin Lia Mausolf Shamina Singh Vilas Dhar Raj Kumar Margaret R. Jamie Drummond Chris Juby Alex W. Schulman Todd Tilley Avni Patel Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth Alex Reid Susan Byrnes