Books as a tool for action at UN SDG Summit

Books took center stage in the SDG Media Zone ahead of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly, in a session titled “Books as a tool for action” held on September 18, 2023.

IPA President Karine Pansa and Vice President Gvantsa Jobava, were joined by London Book Fair Director Gareth Rapley for the session, which was moderated by Felix Zeltner, founder & CEO of Remote Daily but better known to many in publishing as the host of Frankfurt Bookfair’s The Hof.

The session aimed to “look at how the book sector globally is working to raise awareness of the SDGs.”

IPA President Karine Pansa illustrated the influence of books in driving action. “We need to think about books in a broader perspective,” she stated, addressing the importance of diverse texts and the power they possess to inspire individuals to “gather vital research that supports decision-making.”

Pansa also highlighted the initiatives that IPA has worked on with the UN and other book sector organisations including the SDG Book Club and its reading lists for children aged 6-12 in all six UN languages covering all the SDGs. In addition, the SDG Publishers Compact has brought together over 300 publishers who have committed to integrating the SDGs into their business operations.

Gareth Rapley, Director of the London Book Fair, affirmed the important role that book fairs play in industry and society, stating that book fairs “bring people together to have meaningful meetings, discussions, and driving conversations.”