- The World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2024 are taking place on 23 to 27 September in New York.
- The meetings will focus on reinvigorating multistakeholder momentum on the Sustainable Development Goals through innovative cross-sector partnerships.
- More than 1,000 global leaders will come together to exchange perspectives and accelerate the concerted collaboration needed to advance progress on the UN objectives by 2030.
New York, USA, 18 September 2024 –More than 1,000 business leaders, policymakers, leaders from international and civil society organizations, innovators and social entrepreneurs will gather in New York for the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2024 (SDIM) – held in parallel to the United Nations General Assembly – to drive progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With just six years remaining before 2030, progress on the SDGs remains uneven and gaps persist in climate resilience, social inclusion and economic equity. The global backdrop of geoeconomic tension, sluggish growth and climate change has only reinforced the urgent need for transformative and urgent collective action. SDIM 2024 will serve as a crucial platform to revitalize efforts to bridge these gaps and shape a more just, resilient and sustainable global future for all.
“As we face unprecedented global challenges, the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings will provide a timely platform for leaders to renew momentum around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said Børge Brende, President, World Economic Forum. “These meetings aim to turn collective commitments on pressing global issues into meaningful and sustainable action.”
Leading the dialogue, over 90 top officials from governments and international organizations from over 40 countries, including eight heads of state and government, will convene in person and engage in a series of curated dialogues aimed at advancing multistakeholder efforts around the 17 SDGs.
Top political leaders taking part include: Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania; Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium; Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Alexander Stubb, President of Finland; Bernardo Arevalo, President of Guatemala; Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of United Kingdom; Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico; John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (2021-2024) and Secretary of State (2013-2017).
Leaders from international organizations include: Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund; Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, President of the African Development Bank; Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross; Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme; Catherine M. Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF; Ibrahim Thiaw, Undersecretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
The diverse programme will cover critical areas such as Green Trade, Putting COP’s Pledges into Practice, and Putting a Spotlight on a Nature-Positive Future. Over 15 sessions will be livestreamed here to share insights with the media and the public.
The meetings will advance progress on ongoing World Economic Forum initiatives such as the Edison Alliance, Responsible Renewables Infrastructure, and the Global Alliance for Women’s Health. The outcomes of the meetings will inform upcoming Forum work, including at COP29 and the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos.
The meetings will also see the release of new Forum insights, including a report on critical minerals for the energy transition, new research on quantum for the SDGs, and the latest edition of the Chief Economists Outlook.
