With the issue of AI at the top of the international agenda, UNESCO is calling on seizing the momentum for enhanced international cooperation on education, critical thinking and AI literacy, to ensure that the development of AI models serve human intelligence, human dignity and human agency — not weaken or replace them. UNESCO operates at the heart of UN efforts on these issues, as co-chair of the UN Dialogue on AI Governance, notably, and stands ready to play an active role as the UN lead agency on the topic.
As another highlight of the high-level week, UNESCO will lead discussions at the International Alliance for the Global Ocean Observing System and strengthen international cooperation to address sea-level rise, including through a major exhibition on One Ocean, bringing Member States and partners together to promote effective ocean observation, respond to planetary crises, and support a competitive blue economy.
Besides the events mentioned below, UNESCO is expected to sign two Institutional Cooperation Agreements during the UNGA, with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), marking a new strategic partnership linking climate action, science, and education. The agreements will formalize cooperation between UNESCO and the two UN entities, mobilizing scientific knowledge, education, and intercultural dialogue to address pressing global challenges. The week comes on the heels of the UN General Assembly’s proclamation of the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development (2027–2036), supported by 174 Member States. Entrusting UNESCO with leading its implementation, the Decade marks a significant recognition by the international community of the role of culture in sustainable development and of UNESCO’s mandate and leadership in this field.
“Generation Unlimited” Global Leadership Council
When: 21 September 2026
Where: UNICEF House,
Who: UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany will represent the Organization
By 2035, 1.2 billion young people in emerging markets and developing economies will enter the labour force. Only 400 million are expected to find jobs. Meanwhile, AI and the green transition are mobilizing trillions and reshaping labour markets. Yet the collaboration needed to convert that capital into youth opportunity remains fragmented, short-term and project-centric, rarely building the national systems needed for scale. This meeting is about closing that gap. Heads of State and Government, ministers, global CEOs, development and financing institutions, and young people will come together to identify actionable strategies for turning these investments into skilling, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people.
To watch the event, please click here. Learn more.
Digital@UNGA 2026
When: 21 September 2026, 17:00–20:00 (New York time)
Where: Delegates Dining Room at United Nations Headquarters, New York
Who: UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany will represent the Organisation
Now in its fourth year, Digital@UNGA has grown into a leading multistakeholder platform for digital cooperation and innovation during the United Nations General Assembly. The event will bring together governments, international organizations, industry leaders, investors, innovators, civil society, academia, youth, and the technical community to advance dialogue, partnerships, and action for an inclusive digital future. Learn more.
