2019 Social Good Summit Celebrates Decade of Activism Tackles Top Issue of Our Time — Climate Change

The 10th annual Social Good Summit (SGS) will celebrate a decade of activism this coming September 22 in New York, during the United Nations General Assembly week. This year’s Summit will focus on the catastrophic threat of climate change. We only have one planet. At SGS 2019, we’ll rally to save it.

Launched 10 years ago by Mashable, United Nations Foundation, 92nd Street Y, and the United Nations Development Programme, the SGS brings together global thought leaders, new media and technology experts, grassroots activists, and influential voices from around the globe for constructive dialogue and on-stage activations.

To date, confirmed speakers for the 2019 edition include:

• Christiana Figueres – Founding Partner, Global Optimism and Former Executive Secretary, UN Climate Convention
• Jonathan Safran Foer – Author of We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast
• Ayana Elizabeth Johnson – Marine Biologist, Policy Expert, Founder & CEO of Ocean Collectiv, Founder of Urban Ocean Lab
• Zoleka Mandela – Child Health Initiative Global Ambassador
• Kumi Naidoo – Secretary General of Amnesty International
• Caroline Roan – Vice President, Pfizer Global Health & Patient Access, and President, the Pfizer Foundation
• Alexandria Villaseñor – 14-year-old Climate Striker and Founder, Earth Uprising International
• Elizabeth Yeampierre – Executive Director of UPROSE, Co-Chair of Climate Justice Alliance

Join us:

• In person: Tickets for the Social Good Summit are available now at socialgoodsummit.com
• Online: The summit will be livestreamed on mashable.com/sgs-livestream/ and available in eight different languages
• Press: Applications are now open to join the Press Lounge

“Youth leaders are rightfully impatient for leadership on climate change and are taking charge of their own future,” said Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme. “This is our collective moment in history to disrupt the status quo, and the Social Good Summit is just the kind of platform young people need to have their voices heard loud and clear. Let’s follow their lead, join forces, and take action today to protect our planet for generations to come.” 

“Global progress is possible when committed citizens take action alongside the United Nations,” said Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the UN Foundation. “The Social Good Summit is a unique moment to feature activists on the front lines of the fight for our planet, so we can all be inspired to do more.”

“We believe real progress comes from a solutions-oriented approach,” said Jessica Coen, Editor in Chief and SVP of Mashable. “The Social Good Summit puts this belief into action. We’re inviting the global community to take part in a critically important conversation.”

“Social Good Summit began ten years ago as a collaborative effort to open up the important conversations happening at UNGA to grassroots activists and communities locally and internationally,” said Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday, former Chief Innovation Officer of 92Y and one of the original architects of the Summit. “We invite citizens around the globe to bring climate action to the forefront of those conversations and commit to fighting for our planet.”

The Social Good Summit is a part of Global Goals Week 2019, a collective effort to maximize the value of events and activations held during the opening of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 74) and focused on driving progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals. The Social Good Summit is supported by a number of sponsors this year, including Pfizer, which shares a commitment to advancing progress toward achievement of the Global Goals.

SGS 2018 was a landmark year for the innovative summit, which featured influential and inspirational experts from over 20 countries driving meaningful change via media and technology. Using the hashtag #2030NOW, SGS 2018 garnered 1.3 billion social impressions in just 24 hours.

About the United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation acts as a strategic partner to help the United Nations mobilize the ideas, people, and resources it needs to drive global progress and tackle urgent challenges. We focus on issues at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals, build initiatives across sectors to solve problems at scale, and engage citizens who seek action. Founded in 1998 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner, the UN Foundation works with philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual partners. Learn more at: www.unfoundation.org.

About the United Nations Development Programme                                                                    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partners with communities, governments and the private sector to fight poverty and inequality around the world, protect the planet and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. On the ground in 170 countries and territories, we strive to empower communities and help build nations that can withstand crisis and disasters, sustain peace and improve the quality of life for everyone. Learn more at: http://www.undp.org

About Mashable

A part of Ziff Davis’ growing portfolio, Mashable (http://www.mashable.com) delivers expert coverage of tech, digital culture and entertainment to a dedicated and influential global audience of over 70 million unique visitors. Ziff Davis, a subsidiary of j2 Global, Inc., is a leading global digital media company operating in three core verticals: Technology, Gaming, and Shopping. Its brands – PCMag, Mashable, Speedtest, ExtremeTech, Geek, Toolbox, IGN, AskMen, Offers.com, TechBargains, emedia and Salesify – produce and distribute premium content across multiple platforms and devices. Ziff Davis delivers advertising, performance marketing, data services and licensing solutions to thousands of clients worldwide. Ziff Davis publishes in 25 languages and successfully partners with local publishing operators across 114 countries

About 92nd Street Y

92nd Street Y is a world-class, nonprofit cultural and community center that fosters the mental, physical and spiritual health of people throughout their lives, offering: wide-ranging conversations with the world’s best minds; an outstanding range of programming in the performing, visual and literary arts; fitness and sports programs; and activities for children and families. 92Y is reimagining the community center in the digital age with initiatives like the award-winning #GivingTuesday, launched by 92Y in 2012 as a day to celebrate and promote giving. More than 300,000 people visit 92Y annually; millions more participate in 92Y’s digital and online initiatives. Established in 1874, 92Y embraces its Jewish heritage and welcomes people of all backgrounds and perspectives. For more information, visit http://www.92Y.org.

Media contacts:

United Nations Foundation: Serena Jiwani, sjwani@unfoundation.org

United Nations Development Programme: Adam Cathro, adam.cathro@undp.org

Mashable: Sophie Laplante, sophie_laplante@mashable.com

92nd Street Y: Carrie Oman, coman@92y.org