Event Overview
The press breakfast event, hosted by the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in collaboration with the Foreign Policy and United Nations Association of Austria (UNA-Austria), is poised to be of significant importance, providing insights into the UN priorities for the year 2025. This notable gathering hold took place on Tuesday 28 January 2025 at 11 a.m.at Imperial Palace Vienna (“Hofburg / Stallburg”) A-1010 Wien, Reitschulgasse 2, first floor, 1010 Vienna , Such an event not only underscores the United Nations’ ongoing commitment to transparency and dialogue but also serves as a vital platform for discussing strategic objectives that will shape international cooperation in the coming years.
As representatives from various UN organizations based in Vienna convene, they detailed their specific contributions towards attaining the UN goals for 2025. Topics covered include sustainable development, peacekeeping, future UNIDO Plans including next conference in Saudi Arabia, as the next efforts of the IAEA around the world specially in Ukraine and Iran and a comprehensive agenda set forth by the agency. Media personnel in attendance afforded the unique opportunity to engage directly with UN leaders and representatives, facilitating a discourse that could enhance public understanding and promote awareness of these pivotal issues.
This press breakfast represents more than just a meeting; it is an essential dialogue space where vital themes are addressed, and cooperative strategies are formulated. The contributions from diverse UN entities in Vienna are crucial, as they align with the overarching mission of the United Nations to foster collaboration and collective action among member states. This event ignited discussions that resonate well beyond the breakfast Invitation, shaping narratives that underscore the significance of global unity and cooperation as we approach a crucial juncture in 2025. The sheer value of this occasion cannot be overstated, as it links media representatives with the critical themes that dominated international relations in the coming years.
Speakers and Their Roles
At the Press Breakfast was focused on the UN’s priorities and events for 2025 in Vienna, an esteemed lineup of speakers provided valuable insights into their areas of expertise. Each speaker plays a crucial role in addressing various initiatives and strategies that align with the United Nations’ objectives, ultimately contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and priorities that lie ahead.
The speakers collectively highlight the multifaceted nature of the UN’s work in Vienna, ensuring that discussions during the breakfast will provide a well-rounded perspective on the priorities for 2025.
Key Topics and Highlights for 2025
The press breakfast focused on several pivotal themes that define the United Nations’ agenda for 2025, particularly in the context of Vienna’s international role. These discussions are designed to illuminate the strategic priorities of the UN agencies situated in this city and their collective objectives on a global scale. One of the key areas of focus is advancements in industrial development. This includes exploring sustainable practices and technologies that can drive economic growth while adhering to environmental standards.
Another significant topic slated for discussion is international atomic safety. With the increasing reliance on nuclear energy, ensuring the safe and peaceful use of atomic technology remains a pressing concern. The speakers delved into regulatory measures, collaborative efforts among nations, and best practices to enhance safety protocols, which are paramount for both environmental and human health.
The agenda also addressed critical issues related to narcotics control. In light of the ongoing global drug crisis, speakers will share insights on effective strategies for combating drug trafficking, the importance of international cooperation, and the role of the UN in promoting best practices for governance and law enforcement under the director Ms. Ghada waly. This topic underscores the need for a unified approach in addressing the challenges posed by illicit drug trade and its socio-economic impacts.
These key highlights not only set the stage for a deeper understanding of the UN’s operations in Vienna but also chart a roadmap for achieving broader goals that resonate worldwide.
Importance of Collaboration and Engagement
In today’s complex global landscape, the significance of collaboration among various United Nations (UN) organizations cannot be overstated. As nations face unprecedented challenges such as climate change, humanitarian crises, and socioeconomic disruptions, united engagement emerges as a crucial strategy for responding effectively. Different UN agencies have unique expertise and resources that, when combined, can create a synergistic effect. This collective approach not only amplifies the impact of individual initiatives but also promotes shared accountability and fosters global partnerships that are essential in tackling multifaceted issues.
The role of media in these collaborative efforts is equally vital. Media organizations serve as a bridge between the UN and the public by disseminating important information, raising awareness about critical humanitarian and environmental issues, and shining a light on the urgent needs of communities at risk. By engaging with media outlets, UN agencies can ensure that their messages reach a wider audience, thus mobilizing support from governments, civil society, and the private sector. This synergy between media and UN organizations enables a more informed public discourse, encouraging active participation in addressing global challenges.
Events such as the press breakfast are instrumental in strengthening relationships between UN agencies, governments, and civil society. These forums facilitate open dialogue, allowing stakeholders to share insights, align strategies, and discuss future initiatives. By bringing together diverse perspectives, such gatherings can catalyse cooperative efforts, ensuring that actions taken are grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the complexities at hand. Furthermore, inviting media representatives to participate in these events underscores the importance of their role in engaging the public and promoting transparency in the UN’s mission. Ultimately, fostering a collaborative spirit through such engagements fortifies the global response to pressing challenges, paving the way for sustainable development and humanitarian progress.
Welcoming remarks by:
Bernd Hermann,Secretary General, Foreign Policy and United Nations Association of Austria (UNA-Austria) and President, Young United Nations Association Austria (YUNA-Austria)
Introductory remarks by:
Sonja Wintersberger
Officer-in-Charge, United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna
Speakers include:
Simone Carneiro
Communications Officer, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Fredrik Dahl
Spokesperson, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Gunnar Vrang
Chief, Public Information, Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)
Sonya Yee
Chief, Advocacy Section, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Highlights for 2025
The Secretary-General spoke of how our actions — or inactions — have unleashed a modern-day Pandora’s box of ills. He mentioned four in particular: Runaway conflicts. Rampant inequalities. The raging climate crisis. And out-of-control technology. But he said the good news is that we have the plans to tackle these challenges. The Pact for the Future which was adopted in September last year at the Summit of the Future, sets out how we can deal with these challenges and implementing the Pact will be a central priority for the UN in 2025.
The Pact covers a broad range of issues including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance.
The adoption of the Pact for the Future demonstrates that countries are committed to an international system with the United Nations at its center. This year the United Nations is marking its 80th anniversary and here in Vienna, we will be highlighting the relevance of the UN Vienna organizations to multilateralism and how their work is contributing to “building our future together”.
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty organization (CTBTO)
29 August, International Day Against Nuclear Tests
International Day against Nuclear Tests, marked every year on 29 August since 2009, is a rallying point for calls around the globe for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to be brought into force. The day is observed by coordinating various activities throughout the world, such as symposia, conferences, exhibits, competitions, publications, lectures, media broadcasts and other initiatives throughout the UN system.
8-12 September, SnT2025 CTBT: Science and Technology Conference 2025, Vienna, Austria
SnT is CTBTO’s flagship event and will bring together well over 1,000 scientists, technologists, academics, students, and representatives of the CTBTO’s policy making organs. SnT is a platform for advancing science and technology research and fostering collaboration in the context of nuclear-test-ban monitoring, verification, and the universalisation of CTBT. The conference will take place at the Hofburg and representatives from the media will be invited to attend the conference which will gather more than 2,000 attendants, including a number of high-level representatives from the fields of research and development, science diplomacy, science advisory, and advocacy.
14th Conference on Facilitating Entry into Force of the CTBT (Article XIV Conference), New York (late September)
The CTBT contains a special mechanism to promote its entry into force: a conference designed to facilitate this objective, which takes place every other year. The official designation of the event is the Conference on Facilitating Entry into Force of the CTBT, but it is more commonly known as the “Article XIV Conference” (in accordance with the relevant article in the Treaty). 13 of these conferences have taken place every alternate year since 1999 and the next conference is scheduled for late September in New York. The United Nations Secretary-General convenes the Article XIV conferences. While attendance is open, decision-making is limited to Signatory States that have ratified the CTBT. Signatory States, non-signatory States, intergovernmental organizations, specialized agencies, and non-governmental organizations are invited to attend and speak as observers, and also to sign the final declaration.
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine will present a new report to the UN Human Rights Council on 18 March. More information here.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Third International Conference on Applications of Radiation Science and Technology (ICARST-2025) (7-11 April 2025)
International Conference on Stakeholder Engagement for Nuclear Power Programmes (26-30 May 2025)
International Conference on Advances in Radiation Oncology (ICARO-4) (2-5 June 2025)
IAEA General Conference 2025 (69th) from 15 to 19 September 2025
International Conference on Resilience of Nuclear Installations against External Events from a Safety Perspective – Focus on Climate Change (20–24 October 2025, Vienna, Austria)
International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies: Building the Future in an Evolving World (1–4 December 2025, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine: X-Ray Vision (8–12 December 2025, Vienna, Austria)
IAEA Board of Governors meetings (regular): week of March 3, week of June 9, week of September 8, week of 17 November.
