2026 State of the World Conference: The UN We Aspire To
This year's conference will focus on the UN's internal reforms, recent achievements, and a long-term vision for multilateralism.
The 80th anniversary of the United Nations should be a reason to celebrate the lasting venue of world politics, the norms it has created, and the lives it saved, but the UN has come under attack as a platform, an institution, and a system of values.
Following the inaugural State of the World Conference in September 2024 that centered on the Pact for the Future, this year’s conference will center around the UN's aspirations. Discussions will focus on the ongoing UN80 reform process, as well as key multilateral achievements and the longer-term vision that is needed for effective multilateralism at the UN.
Speakers will also discuss insights from the upcoming report, In Defense of Multilateralism: The UN We Must Aspire To, which is expected to be published ahead of the conference.
Panels
Panel 1: The UN we must aspire to for Sustainable Development
The panel will focus on key challenges and solutions for the UN’s work on development and development finance. This includes a focus on incentives for meaningful cooperation through funding incentives, stronger lead agencies and expanded role of resident coordinators.
- Moderator: Prof. Daniel Naujoks, Faculty Director, UN Partnership Initiative, SIPA-Columbia
- H.E. Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General (TBC)
- H.E. Amb. Parvathaneni Harish, Permanent Representative of India to the UN
- Prof. José Antonio Ocampo, Co-director, Development & Governance concentration, SIPA-Columbia, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs
Panel 2: The UN we must aspire to for a Healthy Planet
The panel will focus on key challenges and solutions for the UN’s work on climate and environment-related impacts.
- Moderator: Prof. Scott Barret, Lenfest-Earth Institute Professor of Natural Resource Economics, SIPA-Columbia
- H.E. Amb. Ricklef Beutin, Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN (TBC)
- H.E. Amb. Ilana Victorya Seid, Permanent Representative of Palau to the UN (TBC)
- Prof. Ben Orlove, Professor of International and Public Affairs, SIPA-Columbia, IPCC lead author
Panel 3: The UN we must aspire to for Peace and Global Order
The panel will discuss the challenges to restore the authority of the UN charter, its specific role to promote global public goods, limit the use of force in interstate relations, and reform peacekeeping. It will also emphasize how the UN might become less process-oriented and pivot towards impacts
- Moderator: Prof. Michael Doyle, University Professor, SIPA-Columbia; former UN Assistant Secretary-General for Policy
- H.E. Annalena Baerbock, President of the UNGA
- H.E. Amb. Brian Wallace, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the UN, Co-chair, Informal Ad Hoc Working Group on the Mandate Implementation Review
- Anoushka Joshi, MIA 2027
Location
The Forum at Columbia University
Auditorium
605 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027
