SDIM24: What are the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings and what to expect

Published Sep 16, 2024 · Updated Sep 23, 2024

Sustainable Development Impact Meetings are held in New York to track progress on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) Image: World Economic Forum/Jeffery Jones

Linda Lacina

This article is part of: Sustainable Development Impact Meetings

The Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2024 (SDIM) take place on 23-27 September at the World Economic Forum in New York.
This annual meeting convenes leaders from politics, business and civil society to drive action, partnerships and innovation in sustainability to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The meeting will explore key themes such as maintaining momentum for climate and nature action, digital literacy and economic inclusion.
Only 17% of the SDGs are on track - and urgent action is needed to accelerate progress.
From themes to the key sessions to watch, here's what you need to know about #SDIM24.

The 2030 deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals is fast approaching, but less than a fifth of the SDG targets are on track.

While there has been minimal or moderate progress on nearly half of the targets, more than a third have stalled or even regressed, the UN's Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024 found in June.

Have you read?

Overall progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Minimal progress is being made towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Image: UN

Climate change, peace and security and inequality among and between countries are undermining progress to achieving the SDGs.

Summer 2024 was the hottest on record in the Northern Hemisphere, while August was the 13th month in 14 where global average temperatures have exceeded 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

The private sector must play a key role, together with governments and civil society, in renewing action to accelerate sustainable development.

For our part, the World Economic Forum mobilizes urgent public-private collaboration year-round, fostering innovative, cross-sector partnerships that tackle challenges too complex for any single entity to address alone.

The Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2024

As leaders convene for the 79th Sessions of the UN General Assembly, the Forum's annual Sustainable Development Impact Meetings will bring together business leaders, policymakers, international and civil society organizations, innovators and social entrepreneurs for a series of carefully curated impact-driven leaders’ dialogues.

More than 1,000 global leaders will come together for the meetings, which will highlight the work we're doing to drive action and partnerships across all sectors to advance the SDGs, with renewed commitments to leave no-one behind.

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).

The meeting will also welcome leaders from international organizations, including: 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.

Key sessions to look out for

You can view the full programme here.

Navigating a Volatile Geopolitical Landscape - Monday 23 September, 14:30 EDT

The current geopolitical landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with shifting centres of global governance, new security threats and unpredictable political developments. How are organizations adapting their strategies to maintain stability and build resilience amid disruption?

Putting COPs' Pledges into Practice - Monday 23 September, 17:00 EDT

Global decision makers will convene at three COPs on the Biodiversity, Climate and Desertification agendas this year. As the planet risks maintaining a pathway to 3C of warming, with intensifying land degradation and a million animal and plant species at risk of extinction, a coordinated approach is fundamental to maintain momentum on the net-zero, nature-positive transition. How can actors from the public and private sector move beyond current geoeconomic tensions and take the necessary actions to curb carbon emissions and halt biodiversity loss while ensuring a more inclusive economy?

Beyond 1 Billion: Next Steps for Digital Inclusion - Tuesday 24 September, 11:00 EDT

The EDISON Alliance has positively impacted the lives of 1 billion people around the world by promoting digital connectivity, ensuring affordability and scaling usability. Despite this historic milestone, one third of the world's population remains offline. What lessons can be learned from recent successes in enabling connectivity and what role will new tools like AI play in continuing progress to digital equity?

The Path to Sustainable Growth - Wednesday 25 September, 12:30 EDT

While income inequality has risen to its highest level in three decades, the risk of political shifts in major economies could also have a significant impact on long-term economic sustainability. How can global leaders navigate these ongoing risks to ensure sustainable growth?

It’s Not Easy Trading Green - Wednesday 25 September, 16:00 EDT

According to the WTO, world trade is set to grow by 3.3% in 2025 but numerous challenges remain in ensuring this growth aligns with global nature and climate goals. How should business and government collaborate to create trade frameworks that promote economic development while supporting next-generation technologies and ensuring environmental sustainability?