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SDSN Black Sea Participates in the XIII Global Baku Forum

By SDSN Black Sea

From March 13-15, 2026, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s Black Sea Network (SDSN Black Sea) participated in the XIII Global Baku Forum, held under the theme “Bridging Divides in a World in Transition.” Since 2019, SDSN Black Sea has been hosted by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, offering a valuable opportunity for Leadership Council members to meet in person and exchange views on shared priorities.

The following members of the SDSN Black Sea Leadership Council participated in the 2026 Global Baku Forum:

  • Nikolaos Theodosiou, Chair of SDSN Black Sea, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Marina Stefanova, Faculty of Economy, representing the Rector of Sofia University, Bulgaria
  • Sergiy Byelikov, Former Rector of Zaporizhzhya National Technical University, Ukraine
  • Grigoris Zarotiadis, Elected Member of the Management Council, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Tamer Atabarut, Manager of SDSN Türkiye, representing the Rector of Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • Michael Musov, Co-chair of SDSN Bulgaria, representing the Rector of the University of National and World Economy, Bulgaria
  • Michael Christides, Former Secretary General of the Permanent International Secretariat of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization

As part of the Forum, on March 14, SDSN Black Sea organized a side event titled “Bridging Divides in a World in Transition: Focus on the Wider Black Sea Region.” During this session, Leadership Council members discussed the network’s past initiatives and future plans to strengthen understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation across the broader Black Sea region.

Participants also reviewed the outcomes of the 2025 Thessaloniki Sustainability Summit, the network’s flagship annual event, which marked its sixth edition and focused on “10 Years after the Paris Agreement.” It was confirmed that the 2026 Summit will once again take place in September in Thessaloniki, with a thematic focus on SDG implementation within universities. The event will also feature the official presentation of the updated Black Sea Sustainable Development Report.

In addition, Leadership Council members affiliated with the World Academy of Art and Science participated in the side event “Addressing Global Turbulence.” During this session, Professor Nikolaos Theodosiou, Chair of SDSN Black Sea, moderated a panel on “Climate Change and Global Water Systems: Sea Level Variability, Security and Regional Implications.”

The panel featured distinguished speakers, including:

  • Mukhtar Babayev, Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Climate Issues; President of COP29; Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan (2018–2025)
  • Nigar Arpadarai, COP29 High-Level Champion; Member of the Azerbaijan Parliament
  • Salaheddine Mezouar, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco (2013–2017); President of COP22
  • Grigoris Zarotiadis, Member of the Management Council, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; Fellow of WAAS

The participation of SDSN Black Sea in this year’s Global Back Forum stands as a testament to the power of scientific diplomacy in an increasingly complex world. Its success at this high-level event is not an isolated event but the result of a sustained, five-year trajectory of engagement. Through its presence on this influential platform, the network has effectively bridged the gap between academic research and high-level policymaking.