Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2025 to Foster Collaboration on Shared Challenges

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World Economic Forum, [email protected]

New York, USA, 18 September 2025 - More than 1,000 global leaders, from government, business, international organizations, civil society and academia will gather from 22 to 26 September in New York for the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2025 (SDIM25). The meetings, taking place on the margins of the 80th United Nations General Assembly and Global Goals Week, will serve to accelerate renewed progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

At a pivotal moment for the global economy, one marked by profound transformations - from slow growth to complex trade dynamics to unprecedented speed on technological advancements - the Forum will convene its long-standing communities of purpose to help make progress on shared priorities.

The multilateral system is in flux, with the future of multilateralism uncertain and the latest data suggesting that only 17% of the SDGs are on track to be achieved by 2030. Nearly half are showing minimal or moderate progress and over one third have stalled or even regressed. As the world faces increasing numerous crises from geopolitics to economic growth within our planetary boundaries, SDIM25 aims to facilitate action by convening leaders from across sectors and regions to drive inclusive and sustainable growth at speed and scale.

In the context of geoeconomic uncertainty, the meetings will also serve as a critical platform for leaders to engage in dialogues on improving outcomes for people, planet and economies.

"With geopolitical tensions intensifying and sustainability at a crossroads, this moment is about turning shared challenges into shared solutions by strengthening public-private cooperation and shaping an inclusive global economy," said Børge Brende, President and CEO, World Economic Forum. "In a year where the need for cooperation is matched only by the difficulty of achieving it, SDIM25 provides a unique space for cross-pollination in addressing the most pressing developmental challenges of our time."

70 top government officials, including 22 leaders from international organizations and over 500 decision-makers from business will participate in person and engage in carefully curated discussions on new ways to accelerate sustainable development.

Top political leaders partaking in the meetings include: Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh; Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar; Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Equality, European Commission; Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (IC) of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Minister of State of Education of India; Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico; Faisal Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia; Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates of Egypt; Jasem Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General, Gulf Cooperation Council; Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg; Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria.

Leaders from the international organization community include: Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund; Cindy H. McCain, Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP); Catherine Russell, Executive Director, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Tom Fletcher, Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); Anna Bjerde, Managing Director, Operations, World Bank Group.

The programme will address the most urgent global challenges, such as the humanitarian crises, inclusive economic growth and climate action. Seven sessions will be livestreamed here to share insights with the media and the public.

The meetings will also see the release of new insights, including the Chief Economists Outlook and reports on carbon capture and utilization, the economic case for tackling climate and health challenges and the potential of digital trade practices to reduce carbon emissions.

About the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2025

The Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2025 will take place from 22 to 26 September in New York, bringing together over 1,000 global leaders from diverse sectors and geographies. Held ahead of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, these meetings are part of the Forum's year-round work to accelerate progress on growth, resilience, and innovation through multistakeholder dialogues and action.

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