The SDSN Convenes High-Level Discussions on Sustainable Development During UNGA 81 and Climate Week NYC

In September 2026, global leaders and stakeholders gathered in New York City for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) and Climate Week NYC. Key issues at these gatherings included the escalating climate crisis, geopolitical tensions, the implications of rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), the imminent election of the next UN Secretary-General, and the forthcoming formal review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2027.

Against this backdrop, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and partners hosted a series of high-level convenings and critical conversations with academics, policymakers, industry leaders, and youth leaders. Together, participants discussed today’s global challenges — from the protection of tropical forest biomes and the acceleration of the energy transition to the current state of global multilateralism — and explored pathways toward a sustainable future.

Protecting the World’s Tropical Forests

The SDSN’s independent Science Panels — the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA), the Science Panel for the Congo Basin (SPCB), and the Science Panel for the Borneo (SPB) — co-hosted several events, bringing together leading scientists and stakeholders to inform evidence-based policies and actions for sustainable and resilient tropical forests.

As part of the Science Summit, the SPA hosted “Building the Research We Need: Toward an Integrated Research Environment in the Amazon.” The dialogue stressed the need to allocate research funding to local Amazonian institutions and build integrated frameworks for local socioeconomic development, and also featured the launch of the white paper, Supporting a Thriving, Integrated, and More Equitable Science Community Across the Amazon.

“The Science Panel for the Congo Basin: A Dialogue on the Assessment Report 2025,” hosted by the SPCB, featured insights from the Congo Basin Assessment Report and explored efforts to improve collaboration and investment in tropical ecosystems. The discussion also highlighted the urgency of generating greater domestic value from raw materials, modernizing agricultural practices, building long-term capital flows, and actively engaging youth in decision-making processes.

The three Science Panels jointly organized several key discussions. These included: “Nature as Critical Infrastructure: Amazon, Congo and Borneo,” which examined the value of tropical forest ecosystems in achieving stability and development and emphasized the importance of adapting financial systems to monetize nature’s services and de-risk investments; and “Cross-Regional Cooperation for Tropical Forests: Fostering Science and Conservation Across the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Borneo,” which underscored the need to communicate scientific findings in diverse and accessible ways and to align research priorities with local and Indigenous knowledge.

The Science Panels also hosted Scaling Tropical Forest Finance: Science and Finance in Dialogue for the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin, and Borneo,” exploring climate finance for tropical regions and urging action to reframe tropical forests as essential financial assets. At the event, the SDSN launched the brief, Scaling Tropical Forest Finance: Perspectives from the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin and Borneo. The brief synthesizes current evidence on the global ecosystem services provided by tropical forests, examines the limitations of traditional financing, and highlights emerging approaches to scaling tropical forest finance, while providing key recommendations for policymakers and the financial sector.

Building Sustainable Energy Systems

The SDSN’s Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) joined the United Nations Climate Change Global Innovation Hub (UGIH), alongside partners from Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), Globant, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), for a roundtable discussion on “Innovating the Energy Transition: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Scale Climate and Sustainability Solutions.” Under Chatham House rules, participants discussed key challenges for the green energy transition, with a focus on decarbonization goals, energy system optimization, and the growth of AI data centers.

On the final day of Climate Week NYC, the SDSN joined the IEEE Young Professionals and Youth for Sustainability at MASDAR, alongside UNIDO and SEforALL, for a dialogue on “Powering Intelligence: Data Center Loads, Workforce Readiness, and Sustainable Energy Systems.” The session brought together young professionals and emerging practitioners to explore how rapidly growing data center demand is reshaping power systems, workforce requirements, and sustainability strategies. Discussions focused on the infrastructure and skills needed to support AI-driven growth, as well as opportunities to advance efficiency, flexibility, and sustainable solutions for data centers.

Youth Engagement

SDSN Youth hosted “A Youth Vision: From Voice to Influence,” a cross-regional discussion among youth representatives on pathways toward sustainable futures. The conversation underscored the need to give youth meaningful decision-making power in shaping frameworks, as well as the importance of addressing tangible, everyday challenges faced by young people around the world through strong reporting mechanisms and institutional accountability.

The SPA also hosted “Science Across Generations: From Regional to Global Connectivity,” a dynamic discussion with the Panel’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). As part of the Science Summit, the event provided a platform for youth voices to engage critically with science-policy debates. Participants explored key findings from the first chapter of the Amazon Assessment Report 2025, emphasizing the importance of connectivity across geopolitical borders, achieving net-zero deforestation, and curbing extractive and illegal economies through structural adjustments.

Rethinking Multilateralism for a Changing World

The SDSN also engaged in several high-level discussions and bilateral meetings focused on the evolving landscape of global governance and strategies for advancing sustainable development through science-policy engagement and international partnerships.

A high-level discussion organized by the SDSN and the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) on “The Future of Multilateralism: Leadership for a Changing World” explored the need for flexible, multi-stakeholder partnerships that recognize the growing role of middle powers, small states, and regional entities in developing innovative governance strategies.

Across these events, the SDSN and its partners brought together diverse perspectives and expertise to address some of the most pressing challenges facing sustainable development. Together, these conversations highlighted the importance of connecting science, policy, and action to advance solutions for a sustainable future. The SDSN looks forward to continuing these discussions as we approach 2027, a milestone year marking the SDG Summit and the SDSN’s 15th anniversary.