Reflecting on 2025 for the SDSN: Progress, Partnerships, and Impact
As 2025 draws to a close, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) extends its gratitude for your steadfast support in advancing science-based solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. Together, we continue to make meaningful gains on the world’s most acute challenges.
We’re proud to highlight many of the SDSN’s achievements this year, including:
- Expanding our network to 59 national and regional networks with the launch of SDSN Netherlands, Egypt, and Kuwait; welcoming new distinguished leaders to the SDSN Leadership Council; and launching a new Africa Center at Addis Ababa University.
- Developing critical partnerships with SustainChain™ and the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative; signing a tripartite agreement with Agence Française de Développement and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance to support SDG monitoring and policy pathways; and co-organizing the launch of “A Call for Peace, the End of Wars and Respect for International Law” with the town of Gernika, UNAOC, and Religions for Peace.
- Providing essential technical training and workshops for key stakeholders and government partners on sustainable food systems, multilateralism, SDG monitoring, climate resilience, and more.
- Convening high-level gatherings, such as the Conference on Reform of the UN Charter, the GBA–ASEAN Conference on Trade, Finance, and Sustainable Development, a roundtable with UN Ambassadors on the state of sustainable development, and the High-Level Convening on ASEAN’s Integrated Energy and Digital Future.
- Releasing critical new research and datasets, including the 10th edition of the Sustainable Development Report; regional and subnational sustainable reports and indices for Europe and the Arab Region; issue briefs offering practical solutions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050; reports assessing the state of the world’s critical tropical forest biomes, including the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Borneo; and new datasets from SDGs Today.
- Advancing a global community of learners through the SDG Academy’s growing course database; Schools for Goal 7 in partnership with Siemens Energy; the alpha launch of Ages of Globalization; a Master’s in Development Practice (MDP) Summit; and the release of a report charting a roadmap for education for sustainable development in Malaysia.
- Engaging youth through SDSN’s youth networks; the 2025 Vatican Youth Symposium; an Amazon Youth Manifesto at COP30; and the Universities for Goal 13 competition.
- Driving public dialogue on sustainable development issues through SDSN President Jeffrey Sachs’ Book Club, the UN at Your Doorstep open dialogues, the Science Panel for the Amazon’s Conversations for The Amazon We Want podcast, and key thought pieces on the Amazon forest, green education, and youth engagement, among others.
- Participating in key global multilateral events, including the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, the UN High-Level Political Forum, the Sustainability Research and Innovation (SRI) Congress, the UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week, the Global Energy Interconnection Forum, the Second World Social Summit for Development, and the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30).
As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to advancing a more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable world.
