More than 1,000 global leaders from government, business, civil society, and academia are gathering in New York this week for the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2025 (SDIM25). The event coincides with the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly and aims to accelerate progress toward achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Participants are engaging in discussions on pressing global challenges, including humanitarian crises, inclusive economic development, and climate change mitigation. The agenda also covers responsible technological innovation and strategies for sustainable growth. Notable attendees include Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government; Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar; and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.
The meetings occur at a critical juncture for the global economy, which is undergoing significant shifts due to evolving trade patterns and rapid technological change. By aligning with the UN General Assembly, SDIM25 seeks to strengthen multilateral cooperation and drive actionable outcomes on shared global priorities.
Several public panel discussions were livestreamed, offering insights into key economic and geopolitical issues. One session, titled “Geopolitics: Looking beyond Uncertainty,” addressed the current era of geopolitical instability marked by shifting alliances and weakened international collaboration. Panelists emphasized the importance of maintaining multilateral frameworks to prevent escalation into great power conflict.
Salah Ahmed Jama, Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, expressed concern over rising geopolitical uncertainty but reaffirmed his country’s commitment to a rules-based international order. Similarly, Victoria Nuland, former senior U.S. diplomat and professor at Columbia University, warned that failure to engage constructively on global challenges could bring nations back to the brink of major conflict.
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SDIM25 highlights: Surprising stats and key conversations
Global leaders from across sectors are gathering this week in New York for the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2025. n nThe gathering is taking place alongside the 80th United Nations General Assembly and will help progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. n nParticipants will explore a range of issue areas including economic growth, responsible technology and sustainable development. n nMore than 1,000 global leaders are gathering in New York this week for the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2025 (SDIM25). n nThe participants, who come from government, business, international organizations, civil society and academia, have convened to discuss solutions and drive impact related to the most urgent global challenges including ongoing humanitarian crises, inclusive economic growth and climate action. Key leaders include Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh; Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar; and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, to name a few. n nSDIM25 comes at a pivotal moment for the global economy, which continues to undergo profound transformations ranging from shifting trade dynamics to unprecedented technological advancements. The meetings are also taking place on the margins of the 80th United Nations General Assembly and will serve to accelerate renewed progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. n nFor more, see below for some of the highlights from SDIM25. n nPublic sessions offer expert insights n nSeveral panel discussions were livestreamed at SDIM25, bringing insights from top public and private sector leaders to the media and general public. The sessions examined the major issues impacting the global economy and explored how progress can be made on the shared challenges. n nInstability on the world stage n nAn uncertain geopolitical era has emerged, marked by shifting alliances, volatile economic policies and weakening multilateral cooperation. In a public session, Geopolitics: Looking beyond Uncertainty, panelists explored how stakeholders can identify steps to strengthen global security and stability, and discussed how organizations can adapt to operate more effectively in an increasingly unpredictable world. n n”We are now a bit surprised by the increased level of uncertainty in geopolitics,” said Salah Ahmed Jama, Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, adding that “we are firm believers in multilateralism, and we hope that multilateralism and a rules-based world order will be to the benefit of all.” n nColumbia University professor and former top US diplomat Victoria Nuland also warned in the session that “we might actually walk ourselves back to the brink of great power conflict if we are not talking and managing all of these challenges together.” n nLoading… n nMeanwhile, in another session, US