NEWS & STORIES

As we enter 2025, we want to spotlight key global events and moments addressing critical issues like global health, climate change, humanitarian aid, development, and international cooperation. This year marks a pivotal point for global progress, as it aligns with significant milestones and deadlines for international agreements, including the Paris Agreement’s mid-term global stocktake, assessing climate commitments.

2025 is particularly crucial for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with only five years remaining to meet the 2030 agenda. The actions and decisions made in 2025 will be instrumental in shaping a sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.

🏔️ World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland (January 21–24, 2025) – Serves as a platform for business, political, and societal leaders to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.This year’s theme will be “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,” which will focus on global cooperation for the common good. 

♻️ World Sustainable Development Summit, New Delhi, India (February 2025) – Centers on advancing sustainable development and climate solutions. This year’s focus will be on Integrating sustainable development, sustainable consumption and Lifestyles, and mobilising financial resources to support sustainable initiatives and green investments.

🌐 UN Second World Summit for Social Development (March 2025) – Evaluates progress and commitments on social development issues. Key themes this year will be poverty eradication, full and productive employment, decent work for all, and the promotion of inclusive societies that provide equal opportunities and access to resources for all individuals. 

🫁 Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, Cartagena, Colombia (March 25–27, 2025) – Focuses on accelerating action for clean air, energy access, and climate mitigation. The conference will have for running theme evidence-based multi-sectoral solutions to prevent disease, save lives, protect child health, and combat climate change globally.

💰 World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings, Washington D.C., USA (April 2025) – Provides an opportunity to coordinate efforts on global economic challenges, poverty reduction, and development financing.

🤝 G7 Summit, Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada (May 2025) – Focuses on discussions among the world’s largest advanced economies on global political and economic issues. This year’s G7 is set to focus on advancing more inclusive economies, addressing the escalating impacts of climate change, and regulating emerging technologies.

🏥 World Health Assembly Geneva, Switzerland (May 2025) – The 78th session in Geneva will address critical health challenges, including the health impacts of climate change. This year, efforts will focus on making health systems more resilient to climate change, promoting lower-carbon health societies, and using renewable energy to power medical equipment. 

🌱 London Climate Action Week, London, UK (June 2025) – Highlights climate solutions, policy innovation, and community action. Key themes will be accelerating the energy transition and improving standards and disclosure. 

🛡️ NATO Summit The Hague, Netherlands (June 24–26, 2025) – Will bring together member nations to discuss collective defence, security challenges, and strategic priorities. Among key issues, this year’s summit will take a look at the pattern of aggressiveness from Russia. 

⚖️ The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) High-Level Segment New York, USA (July 2025) – Oversees global economic, social, and environmental policies and SDG implementation. This year, the ECOSOC will be reviewing SDG 3: Good Health and well-being, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 14: Life below Water, SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

📈 Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, Seville, Spain  (September 2025) – Focuses on mobilising resources for sustainable development and the SDGs, as well as supporting reform of the international financial architecture. 

🗳️ 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, USA (UNGA) (September 2025) – Serves as the primary forum for international collaboration on global issues. The health crises, climate change, technological risks, and systemic inequalities are some of the themes the GA will be probing. 

💼 G20 Summit, Johannesburg, South Africa (October 2025) – Brings together major economies to address global financial stability, trade, and economic development. Key themes this year are solidarity, equality, and sustainable development. 

📖 Global Biodiversity Outlook 6,  (October 2025) – Is a periodic report that summarises the status of global biodiversity and progress toward international targets.

🌴 UN Climate Change Conference, COP30, Belém, Brazil (November 10–21, 2025) – focusing on advancing global climate negotiations and action commitments. There is anticipation that this COP will be a pivotal moment for addressing deforestation and indigenous rights-based pledges and commitments made in previous COPs as well as climate financing and loss and damage. 

📉 UNEP Emissions Gap Report (November 2025) – Provides insights into the gap between projected emissions and the targets needed to limit global warming.

🇶🇦 21st Edition of the Doha Forum (December 2025) – Creates a platform for dialogue on global political, economic, and social challenges. This forum will have for key themes for international relations and security, exploring global cooperation and conflict resolution. It will also address economic policy and development, with an emphasis on sustainable growth.

🌍 BRICS Summit, Brazil (Date TBD, 2025) – Gathers leaders in the global south, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, to strengthen economic, political, and cultural cooperation. The summit’s outlined theme is “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”.

💡Global Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, Philippines (2025) – Begin operations this year to support vulnerable nations recovering from climate-related disasters.

69th Commission on the Status of Women, New York, USA – Focuses on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment through discussions, global cooperation, and the review of progress on key issues affecting women worldwide. The 2025 commission will focus on reviewing and assessing the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the GA.    

These moments and events represent opportunities for collaboration, advocacy, and meaningful action. Let’s use these milestones to drive solutions for a healthier, more sustainable future! 

Which events will you be following closely? 

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