More than 1,000 global leaders and influencers will gather in New York for the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meetings. The aim of the meetings, which will take place from September 18-22, is to drive progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With the world facing significant challenges such as the climate crisis and geopolitical tensions, achieving the SDG targets set in 2015 is currently off track. The private and civil sectors, alongside governments, must play a crucial role in supporting and accelerating sustainable development efforts.
Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab, emphasized the need for innovative efforts to achieve the SDG targets by 2030. He stated that through the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings, which bring together governments, businesses, and civil society, tangible contributions can be made towards creating a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient world.
During the meetings, participants will engage in carefully curated discussions focused on specific areas of the 17 SDGs. Key areas include accelerating the reskilling revolution, harnessing artificial intelligence for better jobs, improving access to nutrition, advancing the energy transition, responding to the climate and nature crises, supporting the social economy, advancing gender equality, and promoting digital and data-driven health.
The meetings will also inform the next steps of key initiatives such as the First Movers Coalition, the Edison Alliance, and the Reskilling Revolution. Additionally, new coalitions on food security and investment in frontier markets will be launched ahead of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. Furthermore, the meetings will feature the release of new insights, including a report on critical sectors for a nature-positive economy, the impact of generative AI on jobs, and the Chief Economists Outlook. There will also be a virtual reality space on climate tipping points through the Global Collaboration Village to catalyze action.
By convening leaders from various sectors and launching new initiatives, the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings aim to drive progress towards the UN’s SDGs. The meetings will provide valuable insights and promote collaboration towards creating a more sustainable and equitable world.
