Our meetings in New York: Who's coming and what to expect

The world stands at a crossroads, with the global economy experiencing profound change. Traditional growth drivers are being transformed by shifting geopolitical dynamics, rapid technological advancement and the intensifying impacts of the climate crisis.

Addressing the transformations shaping the global economy—from slow growth to complex trade dynamics—requires strong public-private cooperation. As world leaders come together in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week, from 22-30 September, the World Economic Forum convenes its Sustainable Development Impact Meetings (SDIM) to help drive partnership and cooperation to tackle the most urgent global challenges, from humanitarian crises to inclusive economic growth and climate action.

This year marks 80 years since the UN was established and 10 years since it set out its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015. With only five years left on the clock, it has never been more vital to build trust and collaborate on solutions.

The UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report 2025 presents a sober assessment of global progress, highlighting several urgent concerns and ongoing successes.

Only 35% of SDG targets are on track or showing modest gains; nearly half are progressing too slowly, while 18% are in reverse, indicating deep setbacks in some areas. More than 800 million people remain in extreme poverty, and 1 in 12 still face hunger.

But the world has made progress in expanding access to education, improving maternal and child health, and bridging the digital divide, the UN finds.

The burdens of infectious diseases such as HIV and malaria have been reduced through effective prevention efforts. Access to electricity has continued to grow, and renewable energy is now the fastest-rising source of power worldwide.

At 80, the UN is facing a period of flux, with the future of multilateral cooperation remaining uncertain. Achieving sustainable development depends more than ever on inclusive collaboration - bringing together governments, the private sector, international organizations and civil society as essential partners.

Alongside the UN General Assembly in New York, the Forum's annual Sustainable Development Impact Meetings (SDIM) 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.

The meetings, taking place between 22-26 September, highlight the ways the Forum and its partners are driving action across all sectors to advance the SDGs, with renewed commitments to leave no one behind.

70 top government officials, including 22 leaders from international organizations and over 500 decision-makers from business will participate in person and engage in carefully curated discussions on new ways to accelerate sustainable development.

Top political leaders taking part in the meetings 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; Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Equality, European Commission; Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (IC) of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Minister of State of Education of India; Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico; Faisal Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia; Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates of Egypt; Jasem Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General, Gulf Cooperation Council; Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg; Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria.

Leaders from the international organization community include: Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund; Cindy H. McCain, Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP); Catherine Russell, Executive Director, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Tom Fletcher, Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); Anna Bjerde, Managing Director, Operations, World Bank Group.

The meetings will also see the release of timely thought leadership on key topics, including the Chief Economists Outlook and reports on carbon capture and utilization, the economic case for tackling climate and health challenges and the potential of digital trade practices to reduce carbon emissions.

Seven sessions will be livestreamed to share insights with the media and the public. They include:

An uncertain geopolitical era has emerged, marked by shifting alliances, volatile economic policies and weakening multilateral cooperation. This moment calls for urgent reflection on the future of global security and stability. What paths exist for continued security cooperation and how are organizations adapting to operate more effectively in an increasingly unpredictable world?

Over the past year the US has seen shifts in its economic, energy, trade and foreign policies.

Join this session with US policymakers to explore how leaders around the country are navigating these changes and their vision for the US's future.

In 2025, the global energy landscape is being redefined by geopolitical unpredictability, shifting market dynamics and uncertainty around climate ambitions. Assumptions about the speed, scale and direction of the energy transition are being tested as nations recalibrate priorities on energy security, affordability and industrial competitiveness. This session will explore how overcoming the complexities of the energy transition can drive growth, resilience and innovation.

While global debt is forecast to increase to 100% of global GDP by the end of the decade, the economy is facing numerous headwinds, from fragmentation, environmental shocks, demographic pressures and technological disruptions. This session will explore how overcoming volatility and correctly reading economic signals can drive growth, resilience and innovation.

The planet faces intensifying environmental and economic pressures, with extreme weather events escalating and ecosystem degradation impacting the well-being of 3.2 billion people. This session will explore how overcoming these pressures can advance circular models that unlock growth, resilience and innovation.

Fewer than half of people in the world are willing to trust business uses of AI, yet 66% of people are already using it with some regularity. As the rapid development of frontier technologies accelerates, so does its capability to fundamentally reshape economies and businesses. What decision do leaders need to make to earn people's trust, support all stakeholder and ensure that technologies are deployed responsibly?

These digital channels can help you follow the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2025 and stay up to date on the latest insights and launches. You can also join the conversation using #SDIM25.

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