UN Virtual Worlds Day

Harnessing the metaverse to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

14 June 2024, Geneva, Switzerland

Welcome to the first UN Virtual Worlds Day!

Welcome to the first ‘UN Virtual Worlds Day’ a pioneering event presented by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO), the United Nations Futures Lab Network, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Tourism, the United Nations University (UNU), the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UNDPPA), the United Nations Innovation Network (UNIN), the United Nations Guatemala, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its interagency initiative Resilience Frontiers, and the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD).

This one-day event underscores a significant milestone in technological innovation and its potential to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As we delve into the complexities of virtual worlds, we invite you to explore how metaverse and spatial computing can serve as powerful tools for global advancement. Embark on this insightful exploration of the virtual dimension, and witness firsthand how emerging technologies can catalyse a new era of sustainable development and international cooperation. The UN Virtual Worlds Day programme is being developed by a dedicated Steering Committee.

Meet the speakers

Doreen Bodgan-Martin Secretary General, ITU
Seizo Onoe
Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU
H.E. Mr Hamad Al Mansoori
Director General, Digital Dubai
Radia Funna
Futurist and creator of the xHuman theory and Chair of the 1st UN Virtual Worlds Day 
Luis Bernardo Nava Guerrero
Mayor, Municipality of Queretaro, Mexico 
Sameer Chauhan
Director, United Nations International Computing Centre, UNICC
H.E. Mr Nape Nnauye Minister, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Tanzania
Jung Sook Park
Secretary General, WeGO
Neil Trevett
Vice President Developer Ecosystems, NVIDIA & President of the Metaverse Standards Forum
Christina Yan Zhang
CEO, The Metaverse Institute
Muhammad Khurram Khan
Professor, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Anamaria Meshkurti
Tech Investor and Strategic Board Member, AMVS Capital
Bertrand Levy
Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships, The Sandbox
Yazeed I. Alabdulkarim
Advisor, Research & Innovation, Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE)
Isabelle Hupont
Scientific Officer, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Manuel Barreiro
CEO & Founder, Aston Group
Nevine Tewfik
Senior International Relations Expert, Egypt
Madan M. Oberoi
Executive Director of Technology and Innovation, INTERPOL

Exhibition

Metaverse exhibition

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Think-a-Thon

Think-a-Thon to advance the SDGs

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5th ITU Forum on Integrating virtual and physical worlds in the metaverse with digital twin

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ITU Focus Group on metaverse

Global platform to accelerate standardization

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The Mission

Harness the transformative power of virtual worlds to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

Connect with us

With the global convening power of the UN, we bring to our international audience world experts from across government, industry, academia, and civil society.

Stay informed

Our virtual platform is your companion throughout the year for the latest developments in virtual worlds.

Play your part

Join our platform and play your part in using virtual worlds to achieve the SDGs.

Creating real world solutions with virtual worlds innovations

Through this platform, we will showcase groundbreaking initiatives, facilitate collaborations, and provide resources to inspire and empower individuals and organizations to leverage virtual worlds for sustainable development.

Join us on this journey as we explore the digital universe and unlock its potential for a sustainable and inclusive future.

Explore the virtual worlds’ impact on UN’s SDGs

Virtual worlds, such as the metaverse and spatial computing, stand at the forefront of technological innovation. These digital spaces, emerging from the fusion of physical and virtual realities, hold transformative potential in supporting the work of the United Nations and accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By providing immersive, interactive platforms for collaboration and problem-solving, virtual worlds could be instrumental in addressing global challenges.

United Nations partners