Sustainable Development

What you need to know about the Sustainable Development Impact Summit 

A bird is seen in Punaca on the shores of the dried lake Poopo affected by climate change, in the Oruro Department, Bolivia, April 4, 2018. Picture taken April 4, 2018. REUTERS/David Mercado - RC1B2332A820

A bird is seen in Punaca on the shores of the dried lake Poopo affected by climate change, in the Oruro Department, Bolivia. Image: REUTERS/David Mercado

Poppie Mphuthing
Alem Tedeneke
Media Lead, Canada, Latin America and Sustainable Development Goals, World Economic Forum
This article is part of: Sustainable Development Impact Summit

When and where will the Summit take place?

The second annual Sustainable Development Impact Summit takes place in New York on 24-25 September to drive solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Paris Agreement on climate change.

Who is going?

More than 750 participants are attending the SDI Summit and include entrepreneurs and leaders from business, civil society, non-profit and international organizations, government, policy, science and technology. They represent nations, organizations, civil society and businesses at the forefront of public-private cooperation.

The SDI Summit is co-chaired by Nana Addo Dankwa Ajufo-Addo, President, Republic of Ghana; Alex Gorsky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson & Johnson, USA; Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh; Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, India; Barbara Novick, Vice-Chairman, BlackRock, USA; and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark.

What will they be talking about?

SDI's thematic pillars are: building sustainable markets; mobilizing development finance; environmental sustainability; and harnessing science and technology for the global commons.

The Summit, a unique platform, will connect and advance over 100 world-leading coalitions to raise ambition and turn commitments into action on climate change and sustainable development

The UN's 17 sustainable development goals Image: UN

What are the biggest sessions to look forward to?

Once the meeting starts, you can find the full public programme and watch our livestream here. Key sessions to look out for include:

September 24, 13.45 -14.15 EST

With politics and societies around the world becoming ever more polarized and truth distorted, how can social and digital activism help to save democracy? Join this issue briefing to learn how to develop partnerships to ensure the basic social fabric of societies and avert business risks.

September 24, 17.30 -18.30 EST

How can leaders propel action to secure the global commons now?

September 25, 11.45 -12.30 EST

How can nations scale the financing needed to deliver their SDG and climate commitments?

September 25, 17.00 -17.30 EST

Will the ratification of the UN Global Compacts for Migration and on Refugees bring the breakthrough in the governance of these key movements of our time? Join this issue briefing to learn how to devise partnerships for a better response to migration and refugees.

September 25, 17.00 -18.00 EST

Given the speed at which technologies are reshaping economies and societies, how can leaders embrace disruption and accelerate sustainable development outcomes?

How do I get up to speed with SDG issues?

You can read our series of blogs here, including how we can save planet earth and how young leaders are changing the world through SDGs.

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