The SDSN at the 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum
From July 14 to July 23, 2025, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and its partners hosted a number of key events alongside the UN's High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development.
These events worked to mobilize action and collaboration on a range of sustainable development challenges and issues, from closing implementation gaps and accelerating the energy transition in the Global South to harnessing artificial intelligence, advancing higher education, and protecting the Amazonian ecosystem.
SDSN Events at HLPF
*Information will be continuously updated as details are finalized*
From Evidence to Impact: Strengthening Research, Policy, and Capacity Ecosystems
July 15, 2025, 8:00 AM EDT | Online | Recording
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. This roundtable discussion explored practical geospatial, Earth Observations, and AI solutions, as well as innovative approaches to tackle these challenges.
Science Day 2025: Unlocking Tomorrow’s Solutions, Today
July 15, 2025, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM EDT | Online & UNHQ, Conference Room 3, New York | Livestream
Organizers: SDSN, International Science Council (ISC), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
Science Day 2025 offered 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 focused on addressing implementation gaps while exploring the future of sustainable development. By showcasing innovation, fostering collaboration, and encouraging forward-thinking, Science Day 2025 sought to position science as a vital partner in shaping solutions for a complex and uncertain global landscape.
Advancing the Energy Transition in the Global South: Fostering Sustainable Economic Growth and Building Strategic Partnerships
July 15, 2025, 1:15 PM to 2:30 PM EDT | Online & UNHQ, Conference Room 3, New York | Livestream
Organizers: SDSN, GEIDCO, the Permanent Mission of China to the UN, and UNDP
This HLPF side event highlighted the importance of leveraging clean energy as a driver of long-term, inclusive economic growth, full employment, and productive international collaboration. It showcased successful case studies, policy innovations, and scalable models tailored to the unique contexts of countries in the Global South. A key feature was the discussion of the report Accelerate the Green and Low-Carbon Development of Energy, Promote the Modernization of the Global South, which draws on China’s practical experience in energy and industrial development. By convening policymakers, technical experts, and development partners, the event aims to present concrete solutions that improve the efficiency of energy transitions, strengthen international cooperation, and accelerate progress toward a greener, more resilient future — supporting the achievement of the SDGs.
Globalizing Sustainability: Training for Green Jobs Through the Ages of Globalization
July 16, 2025, 12:00 to 1:00 PM EDT | Online
Organizers: SDSN, Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF), Columbia University’s Center for Sustainable Development
As the world accelerates efforts to localize the SDGs and transition to green economies, this side event will examine how lessons from past transitions — from early industrialization to the digital era — can inform inclusive green job creation today. Drawing inspiration from Ages of Globalization, the discussion highlighted the role of youth-led volunteerism, artificial intelligence (AI), and sufficiency-based practices as practical strategies for advancing SDG targets, particularly in vulnerable communities. The event also presented a pragmatic approach to bridging global ambitions with local realities, showcasing how AI and intergenerational knowledge can help develop future-ready workforces and strengthen community resilience through nature-based and locally grounded solutions.
The Future of Energy – Comprehensive Sustainable Energy Solutions for the Global South
July 16, 2025, 1:15 PM to 2:30 PM EDT | Online & UNHQ, Conference Room 3, New York | Livestream
Organizers: SDSN and GEIDCO
To advance the SDG agenda and 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 HLPF side event explored the current landscape of clean energy development in the Global South, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities ahead. The event showcased successful case studies, innovative financing and deployment models, and data-driven solutions that demonstrate practical, scalable pathways toward a sustainable energy future
Global Higher Education Symposium
July 18, 2025, 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM EDT | New York, USA (Invitation Only)
Organizers: SDSN, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), International Science Council (ISC), International Association of Universities (IAU), German Center for Research, York University, and UNESCO
This Symposium sought 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.
Water and Health Connectivity in the Amazon: Challenges and Solutions
July 23, 2025, 1:15 PM to 2:45 PM EDT | Online
Organizers: The Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA) and the Colombian Permanent Mission to the UN, in partnership with the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility
This timely panel featured insights from the 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 also included 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.
Interministerial Coordination for Achieving the SDGs: Insights into Formats, Success Factors and Challenges from Research and Practice
July 23, 2025, 1:15 PM to 2:30 PM EDT | UNHQ, Conference Room F, New York
Organizers: SDSN Germany and Science Platform Sustainability 2030 (wpn2030), in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic
Today’s increasingly complex, interconnected sustainable development challenges require coherent policies that integrate all three dimensions of sustainable development: social, environmental, and economic. Inclusive and collaborative coordination and decision-making processes across ministries, departments, and public agencies are therefore crucial. This side event presented and discussed preliminary research results and insights from different country contexts on formats, success factors, and challenges for interministerial coordination for sustainable development.
Partner Events at HLPF
SDG 8 and Interlinkages with Other SDGs – Decent Work and Economic Growth
July 16, 2025, 10:10 AM to 1:00 PM EDT | UNHQ, Conference Room 4, New York
Organizers: SDSN and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
This session, featuring the SDSN VP of Education, Professor Patrick Paul Walsh, explored critical pathways to accelerate progress on SDG 8 by identifying priority areas in need of urgent action and examining how national policies can be realigned to place decent work at the center of economic planning. Participants discussed practical strategies for formalizing informal work, financing social protection, embedding labour standards in green and digital transitions, and strengthening data systems to monitor labour rights and non-standard forms of work. The session presented an opportunity to re-commit to the vision of SDG 8 — one where growth benefits all, work is safe and dignified, and no one is left behind in transitions shaping the future of work.
Accelerating SDG 8 Implementation: How Academia Can Support Policies and Partnerships that Provide Decent Work for All and Sustainable Economic Growth
July 22, 2025, 1:15 PM to 2:30 PM EDT | UNHQ, Conference Room F, New York
Organizers: UCD, IAU, and UNAI Hub SDG8
This side event explored how academia can support policies and partnerships that promote decent work for all and sustainable economic growth. Reflecting on lessons from the past decade and looking beyond 2030, the discussion highlighted the University of Gothenburg’s recent open-access publication, Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: Economic Growth and Decent Work For All, which connects academic research to actionable policy recommendations.