Organizers: SDSN and the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation

Education is universally acknowledged as a fundamental human right and a pivotal driver of socio-economic development. It serves as a catalyst for poverty reduction, economic growth, and social cohesion. In 2021, total global education spending was estimated at $5.3 trillion. However, low-income countries (LICs) have an average of $2.9 billion, accounting for less than 1% of this expenditure, highlighting a significant disparity in education financing. This session at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development aims to drive global commitment for increased education financing through innovative mechanisms, flexible debt standards, and strengthened global partnerships.

Organizers: Association of Public & Land Grant Universities

This session will bring speakers from the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and partner Second Nature to discuss how universities can support the Sustainable Development Goals around climate action and sustainable, resilient communities.

Organizers: SDSN, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), and Belt and Road Green Development Council (BRIGC)

While emerging and developing economies (EMDEs) represent the highest growth potential in the global economy, they face the highest cost of capital, resulting in high borrowing costs and low investments in critical sectors of the economy. The side event at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development will explore how the international financial architecture can be reformed to correct these systemic failures and unlock long-term, low-cost capital for sustainable development and climate action.

Organizers: SDSN and SDSN Spain

This session at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development will explore the key findings of the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025. The SDR provides an annual assessment of global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2015. This session will serve as a dialogue space to delve deeper into SDR 2025 key findings, SDG-aligned investments, and the reform of the global financial system based on sustainability, fiscal justice, and international cooperation.

Organizers: SDSN, International Science Council (ISC), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)

Science Day 2025, an official side event of the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), will offer an open platform for dialogue between scientists, policy-makers, and global actors to assess how science is contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and where more support is needed. As progress on the 2030 Agenda stalls, this year’s event focuses on addressing implementation gaps while exploring the future of sustainable development. By showcasing innovation, fostering collaboration, and encouraging forward-thinking, Science Day 2025 aims to position science as a vital partner in shaping solutions for a complex and uncertain global landscape.

Organizers: SDGs Today, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, and the Maldives Bureau of Statistics

The state of sustainable development in today’s world demands quality, accessible, timely, and disaggregated data to train locally applicable AI models, drive policies, and support responses to climate, health, and humanitarian crises. Understanding the critical intersection of research, capacity building, and evidence-based policies is essential to designing development plans and investing in strengthening data ecosystems. Join us for a roundtable discussion on practical geospatial, Earth Observations, and AI solutions, and innovative approaches to tackle these challenges.

Organizers: GEIDCO, SDSN, Permanent Mission of China to the UN, UNDP

Additional information forthcoming for this official High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) side event.

Organizers: SDSN and GEIDCO

To advance the SDG agenda and comprehensively achieve SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), the global energy transition must be driven by inclusive, equitable, and region-specific strategies that prioritize economic growth, foster collaboration, and enable investment in clean energy infrastructure. This High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) side event will explore the current landscape of clean energy development in the Global South, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities ahead. The event will showcase successful case studies, innovative financing and deployment models, and data-driven solutions that demonstrate practical, scalable pathways toward a sustainable energy future.

Organizers: United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), SDSN, International Science Council, International Association of Universities (IAU), German Center for Research, York University, UNESCO

Alongside the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), this Symposium aims to address the critical role and potential of, as well as trust in, higher education institutions (HEIs). As globally networked actors in advancing livable futures across the globe, HEIs must aim to critically engage with current frameworks, such as the SDGs, as well as a post-2030 development agenda.

Organizers: Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA), Colombian Permanent Mission to the UN, in partnership with the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility

Alongside the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), this timely panel will feature insights from SPA’s Policy Briefs on health and water, offering science-based, policy-relevant recommendations to address the socio-environmental challenges impacting Amazonian peoples and ecosystems. The event will also include a brief preview of how these themes will be further expanded in the SPA’s second Amazon Assessment Report (AR2025), to be launched at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, later this year.

Organizers: SDSN AusNZPac & Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS)

The session will include a discussion of the findings from a recent review by the Monash Sustainable Development Institute on emerging themes and gaps in ESD research in higher education institutions. Participants are invited to propose other questions or issues they would like to raise with the group.

Organizers: SDSN, University of Hong Kong, and The Institute for International Affairs, Qianhai

In the rapidly shifting global economic landscape, the dynamic economies of Asia must deepen their regional integration and trade to achieve continued rapid economic growth, technological innovation, and environmental sustainability. China and ASEAN are strong trading partners within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and strong investment partners in the Belt and Road Initiative. At the conference, the SDSN proposes an action-oriented program to strengthen GBA-ASEAN relations for the mutual benefit of the region.