2025: The Year of Opportunity and Accountability
Big Questions, Bold Answers, Real Change
2025 is shaping up to be a make-or-break year for the future of the planet, with younger generations at the heart of it all. From climate action to responsible AI, gender equality to global debt, the decisions made this year will ripple into the future.
With the recent adoption of the Pact for the Future – a roadmap for global cooperation – real progress will depend on advocacy and action surrounding key processes in 2025. Events like COP30 in Brazil, the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain, and Beijing+30 anniversary will go beyond setting agendas; they will determine whether global commitments translate into meaningful change.
Leaders will face big questions: Are they ready to tackle systemic barriers? Will they invest in the next generation’s future? And can they work together to create solutions that leave no one behind?
This is a year for collective action, where every summit, process, and election represents a chance to push for a more just and sustainable world.
Whether you’re a policymaker, activist, or young changemaker, 2025 is your opportunity to shape a global agenda that reflects the needs and aspirations of all. Let’s make 2025 the year of real answers.
Trend 1.
Fractured World, Fresh Start
If you’re watching global events, it’s no surprise if all the headlines feel overwhelming.
If you’re watching global events, it’s no surprise if all the headlines feel overwhelming. In 2023, there were 59 conflicts—the most since World War II—with devastating wars in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza. Civilians are suffering the most, with attacks on schools and homes rising by 66% in the past decade. Meanwhile, global leaders remain gridlocked, with the UN Security Council unable to find common ground, widening divides and putting the strength of international cooperation to the test. It’s clear the world needs bold action and real solutions now more than ever.
Big international organizations (think: the UN) are struggling to keep up.
The UN is short on cash, with unpaid dues of about $1.5 billion reaching the highest level in four years, and these funding gaps make it harder to stop or solve the conflicts you see in the news (as well as others long forgotten yet still ongoing), and hampers efforts to prevent or mitigate future crises.
It’s no shock, then, that trust in these global organizations is slipping.
Data shows the UN’s credibility has been consistently low across the Middle East and North Africa since at least the mid-1990s and relatively low across Latin America and Eastern Europe, while a more hopeful picture emerges in several countries in Scandinavia, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
All this might sound far away from your everyday life, but it’s not.
The way our planet is run affects everything from the price of your phone to how safe you feel in a world facing climate change and conflict. By 2025, global leaders face a major test: delivering on the Pact for the Future – a new global plan that’s all about making sure our world plays fair, works together, and spreads the benefits of globalization to everyone.
While the Pact represents a unique opportunity to reset global cooperation and tackle urgent challenges, its success will depend on follow-through: sustained political will, long-term financial commitments, and collaboration across governments, civil society, and young people.
Four Big Questions in 2025
1.
How can leaders reach across deep divides to stop conflicts before they get worse?
2.
Are leaders willing to put limits on their own power to focus on peace?
3.
How can the UN prove it’s still relevant and effective in solving today’s crises?
4.
What will it take to rebuild trust in the UN, especially in regions where confidence is at its lowest?
Key Moments in 2025
Munich Security Conference (February 14–16, 2025, Munich, Germany)
A global platform for high-profile discussions on geopolitical tensions, defense strategies, and climate-induced risks, fostering international cooperation on modern security challenges.
UN General Assembly: Eightieth Regular Session (September 9, 2025, New York, USA)
World leaders will address topics such as international peace, climate change, and social justice during the General Debate.
The Paris Peace Forum (November 11, 2025, Paris, France)
A gathering of global leaders to advance solutions for peace and cooperative multilateralism.
Trend 2.
Age-Old Questions: Leadership and Demographic Trends
The world’s population is shifting fast, and it’s creating a huge divide that will shape the future of work, leadership, and economic growth.
By 2025, aging populations in places like Japan and Italy – where nearly one in four people will be over 65 – are putting massive pressure on healthcare systems, pensions, and shrinking workforces. Meanwhile, Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are booming with young people: in some countries, 50-80% of the population is under 30. For these young countries, it's an incredible opportunity for growth – but also a recipe for instability if jobs don’t keep up with the rising number of workers.
This generational divide is reshaping global economies in real time.
Wealthy nations increasingly depend on immigration to fill labor gaps, with foreign-born workers expected to drive nearly all employment growth by 2030. Yet aging economies face deeper challenges: in most EU countries, the amount owed to people for pensions was between 200% and 400% of the total value of everything the country’s economy produced in a year (its GDP), forcing leaders to ask tough questions about balancing support for retirees and investments in younger generations. At the same time, young, fast-growing countries face their own struggles. India, for example, now has a population bigger than China’s, but its economy remains five times poorer in per capita GDP. For many, this means cheaper energy sources like coal remain the go-to, shaping global consumption patterns and slowing progress toward a cleaner future.
Adding to this challenge? The education crisis.
The OECD’s 2022 PISA results showed plunging math, science, and reading scores in major economies, with the U.S. ranking 34th in math out of 81 countries – below the global average. These are some of the worst scores ever recorded. If countries don’t step up to close education gaps and prepare young people for an AI- and automation-driven economy, inequalities will widen, and millions of young people will be left behind.
The Declaration on Future Generations – part of the outcomes from the Summit of the Future – aims to address this divide.
It calls for embedding long-term planning and strategic foresight into governance to ensure policies today don’t sacrifice opportunities for future generations. This means prioritizing education, job creation, and access to technology for young, fast-growing populations, while supporting aging societies to adapt sustainably.
However, its success will depend on clear implementation plans and accountability mechanisms to move beyond a symbolic effort to a catalyst for tangible action.
Four Big Questions Leaders Need to Answer in 2025
1.
How can young countries, especially in Africa and South Asia, turn their growing populations into sustainable economic powerhouses without leaving millions behind?
2.
How can aging economies adapt their policies to ease labor shortages and pension strains while still supporting younger generations?
3.
What role should AI and automation play in filling labor shortages and fixing education gaps, without deepening inequalities between rich and poor nations?
4.
What early steps can leaders support to achieve quick implementation wins for the Declaration?
Key Moments in 2025
The African Union Summit 2025 ( February 17-18, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Gather member states, philanthropic funders, representatives from various ministries across Africa, and civil society to reaffirm their commitment to the Africa we want as part of Agenda 2063.
Economic Commission for Africa Conference 2025 (March 12–18, 2025, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
A platform for addressing Africa’s economic challenges and opportunities through collaborative policymaking.
LDC Future Forum (April 1–3, 2025, Lusaka, Zambia)
Policymakers and stakeholders will discuss resilience and inclusive growth for Least Developed Countries, emphasizing gender equality and systemic solutions.
ECOSOC Youth Forum (April 15–17, 2025, New York, USA)
A critical platform for young people to present ideas and innovations to advance sustainable development, fostering intergenerational dialogue.
The EU-AU Summit (2025, Date TBD)
Strengthening cooperation between Europe and Africa on trade, peace, and sustainable development initiatives.
Trend 3.
Why Gender Equality Can’t Stay on the Sidelines
In a world where global challenges – from climate change to economic instability – are impossible to solve alone, international cooperation matters more than ever.
But there’s one issue that’s consistently overlooked: gender equality. Despite being key to achieving nearly three-quarters of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), gender equality barely made the agenda at a major summit where world leaders were shaping policies for the future. Across 20 hours of speeches at the Summit of the Future, the term “gender equality” was mentioned just nine times – a glaring sign that women’s rights and leadership are still being pushed to the sidelines.
This neglect isn’t just disappointing – it’s risky.
Progress on gender equality has stalled or even reversed in nearly 40% of countries, threatening to derail the 2030 agenda altogether. Alarmingly, this setback comes at a time when anti-rights movements are gaining ground, challenging norms around gender equality and women’s rights. Well-funded and coordinated networks are working to undermine hard-won progress, from rolling back sexual and reproductive health rights to eroding inclusive international agreements. Women’s voices, particularly those fighting for gender justice and LGBTQI+ inclusion, face growing hostility and shrinking spaces to push back.
Ignoring these trends undermines progress on issues like poverty, education, climate change, and the future of vibrant economies – issues that disproportionately impact women and girls.
International frameworks need more than words; they need stronger financing, political will, and unwavering support for feminist movements fighting on the frontlines.
Four big questions leaders need to answer in 2025 to move gender equality forward
1.
How can leaders create global agreements on gender equality that actually work, even across countries with different legal systems and cultural norms?
2.
What changes need to happen within global governance structures to ensure gender equality isn’t just talked about, but enforced?
3.
How can international frameworks balance cooperation on gender equality while respecting countries’ unique political and cultural contexts?
4.
In an increasingly divided world, how can we make sure gender equality stays a priority everywhere, no matter what?
Key Moments in 2025
IPU Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians (March 13–16, 2025, Mexico City, Mexico)
A forum for women leaders to discuss legislative innovations promoting gender equality and female political participation.
Financing for Feminist Futures Conference (May 21–23, 2025, Madrid, Spain)
Aimed at advancing feminist economic policies, this conference will explore strategies to secure equitable, inclusive funding systems.
5th Feminist Foreign Policy Conference (June 2025, Paris, France)
A platform for policymakers and activists to promote feminist foreign policy principles and their application in global diplomacy.
Commission on the Status of Women and Beijing+30 (March and September 2025, New York, USA)
Marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, this event will review progress on gender equality and set forward-looking goals.
Trend 4.
Climate Action: We’re Out of Time, But Not Out of Options
In 2023, the world officially blew past the 1.5°C global warming threshold at certain points in the year – a line scientists warned we should never cross.
This isn’t just another statistic; it’s dangerous. Extreme weather is hitting harder, sea levels are rising faster, and developing countries – responsible for just 14% of emissions – are taking the biggest hit, absorbing 80% of the economic damage from climate disasters. Meanwhile, promises made to fund climate action remain unfulfilled. The much-hyped $100 billion annual climate finance pledge still falls short, averaging only $83 billion between 2020 and 2023 – and that’s far from what’s needed.
But the ocean, covering 70% of our planet and absorbing 25% of all carbon emissions, is emerging as a beacon of hope.
It supplies over 50% of the world’s oxygen and drives the global economy, contributing $2.5 trillion annually—a figure expected to exceed $3 trillion by 2030. Yet, the ocean is under siege, with rising temperatures, acidification, and pollution threatening critical ecosystems like coral reefs, which sustain 25% of marine life.
The upcoming UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in June 2025 in Nice, France, is a pivotal opportunity to shift the tide. It will focus on accelerating implementation of key global agreements, offering scalable paths to combat climate change while bolstering livelihoods and biodiversity.
Also the upcoming COP30 in Brazil is a moment the world cannot afford to waste.
As the host, Brazil is ready to take center stage, showcasing solutions like bioeconomy innovation and nature-based offsets to preserve the Amazon, which holds 60% of the world’s largest rainforest. But bold ideas alone won’t solve the problem. The world needs to scale climate finance to an eye-watering $5-7 trillion annually, a figure that feels impossible without major financial reforms and accountability for wealthier nations.
Four Big Questions Leaders Need to Answer this year
1.
How can climate finance actually reach the countries that need it most to address the inequities in climate impacts?
2.
What guarantees will ensure COP30 and supporting processes aren’t just talk, but deliver bold and actionable outcomes for everyone?
3.
How can leaders balance national trade policies with the need to collaborate on decarbonizing the global economy?
4.
What role should nature-based solutions, like preserving the Amazon, play in shifting to a cleaner and fairer energy future?
Key Moments in 2025
COP30 (November 2025, Brazil)
Focused on implementing the Paris Agreement, COP30 will drive global climate action with emphasis on adaptation strategies and climate finance.
2nd Africa Climate Summit (September 2025, Location TBD)
Leaders from Africa and beyond will address regional climate challenges and solutions, focusing on sustainable development goals.
UN Ocean Conference (June 9–13, 2025, Nice, France)
A pivotal meeting co-hosted by France and Costa Rica to advance solutions for sustainable ocean management and marine conservation.
Trend 5.
Who’s Really in Control of AI?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving faster than we can keep up, reshaping how we work, learn, and live.
In 2024 alone, the global AI market exploded to grow to over $184 billion—an incredible leap of nearly $50 billion in just one year! And spending on AI infrastructure is set to top $100 billion USD in spending by 2028.
But here’s the catch: not everyone is on the same playing field.
Internet access is still a huge gap around the world. In low-income countries, only 27% of people are online. Meanwhile, in wealthier countries, the numbers jump to 80% and 93%. It’s a big reminder of the digital divide that leaves millions disconnected. This digital divide means AI’s benefits are being concentrated in the hands of the few, while leaving developing nations struggling to compete. It’s also replacing low-wage jobs in developing countries, as wealthier nations use AI to automate production, making goods faster and cheaper – and deepening global inequalities.
The Global Digital Compact (GDC), a milestone outcome of the Pact for the Future, could change this.
It calls for inclusive global cooperation to close digital divides, ensure safe and equitable AI governance, and protect human rights in the digital space. The GDC highlights the need for international frameworks that govern AI responsibly – prioritizing fairness, security, and the ability for all countries to access the benefits of new technologies. But for the Compact to succeed, it must tackle existing tensions and hold tech giants accountable to public interest, not just profits.
The European Union’s AI Act, taking effect in 2025, also aims to set the gold standard for ethical AI rules, ensuring technology works for people, not against them.
But tensions are heating up between AI superpowers like the U.S. and China, as both ramp up export controls on critical technologies like semiconductors by 20% year-over-year. For young, developing economies already facing a shortage of AI expertise, these restrictions widen the gap, making it harder for them to access the economic opportunities AI brings.
And it’s not just a question of access – it’s a question of fairness.
Today, AI models show a high degree of algorithmic bias, disproportionately harming women and minorities. If AI is shaping decisions about who gets hired, who gets a loan, or who gets policed, then biased algorithms mean a biased future. On top of that, as AI increasingly controls public services, finance, and security, there’s a real risk of power getting centralized among just a handful of governments and tech giants.
Four Big Questions Leaders Need to Answer
1.
How can we create global AI rules that are fair, inclusive, and close the digital divide?
2.
What safeguards are needed to fix biased algorithms and ensure AI treats everyone equally?
3.
How can countries work together on AI through agreements like the Global Digital Compact while navigating trade tensions and rivalries?
4.
What role should tech companies play in ensuring AI serves the public good, not just their bottom line?
Key Moments in 2025:
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (January 20–24, 2025, Davos, Switzerland)
Focused on rebuilding trust, reimagining growth, and safeguarding the planet, this meeting will bring global leaders together under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”.
AI Action Summit (February 10–11, 2025, Paris, France)
An event under the French Presidency focused on global AI governance, public trust, and innovation in culture and technology.
UNESCO Global Forum on AI and Digital Transformation (February 12–13, 2025, Paris, France)
A gathering to address ethical challenges in AI governance, emphasizing capacity-building and inclusivity.
AI for Good Global Summit (July 8–11, 2025, Geneva, Switzerland)
Organized by ITU, this event explores ethical applications of AI for global impact, focusing on advancing the
Trend 6.
Is the World Ready for the Next Pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare just how unprepared the world is for major health crises, and the question now is: will we be ready next time?
By 2025, a new Pandemic Agreement – currently under negotiation at the World Health Assembly – aims to fix some of the biggest failures, like ensuring equitable access to vaccines and funding for preparedness. For many low-income countries, this can’t come soon enough: during the initial vaccine rollout, they received less than 5% of global supplies. With trust in global health systems fraying, regions like Africa are stepping up, leading efforts to build local vaccine production hubs to avoid being left behind again.
But pandemics aren’t the only health threat we face.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer – are on the rise, while malnutrition and air pollution remain leading causes of premature death, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Add to that the growing health impacts of the climate crisis – from deadly heat waves and food insecurity to mass displacement – and it’s clear that health, energy access, and environmental resilience are deeply interconnected.
And there’s another crisis looming: antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
By 2050, AMR is projected to become the leading cause of death globally, killing more people than cancer and heart disease combined. The scary part? Without urgent action, even simple infections could become untreatable. Yet investments in healthcare remain shockingly unequal: high-income countries spend around $4000 per person on health care compared to $45 in young, developing nations, leaving many countries ill-equipped to handle future health emergencies.
Four Big Questions Leaders Need to Answer:
1.
How can the Pandemic Agreement guarantee fair vaccine access and funding so low-income countries don’t get left behind again?
2.
What steps will ensure that local and regional health systems – like Africa’s vaccine production hubs – are supported and sustainable?
3.
How can the world address the rising health impacts of climate change, from food insecurity to deadly heatwaves?
4.
What bold actions are needed to tackle antimicrobial resistance before it becomes the world’s deadliest health crisis?
Key Moments in 2025
Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health (March 25–27, 2025, Cartagena, Colombia)
Discussions on mitigating health impacts of air pollution through policy and technology.
Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit (March 27–28, 2025, Paris, France)
A key event focused on tackling global malnutrition and fostering sustainable food systems.
58th session of the Commission on Population and Development (April 7–11, 2025, New York, USA)
Reviews population trends and their implications for development policies, with global health as a core theme for this year’s session.
World Health Assembly (May 2025, Geneva, Switzerland)
Annual meeting addressing global health priorities, including universal healthcare and pandemic preparedness.
Fourth High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on NCDs and Mental Health (September 2025, New York, USA)
Focuses on reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases globally.
Trend 7:
Clean-Tech Boom and Energy Transitions
As of 2025, our world is witnessing a seismic shift in how we power our lives – from cars zipping down highways to how we charge our smartphones.
Central to this transformation are energy transition minerals like lithium, cobalt, and copper. These aren’t just elements on the periodic table; they’re key to developing technologies that are reshaping our world: electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and energy storage solutions that help reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
The global demand for these critical minerals is set to skyrocket, expected to triple by 2030 and quadruple by 2040, igniting a global race that is reshaping geopolitics.
Countries like the United States, the European Union, and China are leading the charge. The U.S. is investing a staggering $369 billion through its Inflation Reduction Act to boost its clean tech sector, aiming to set a global standard in emissions reduction. The EU’s Fit for 55 initiative propels Europe towards a zero-emissions future by 2050 with ambitious hydrogen and grid projects. Meanwhile, China dominates the global solar panel production and battery market, producing 80% of the world’s solar panels.
But the real action might just be unfolding in young countries.
Particularly across Africa that are rich with minerals like cobalt and lithium – essential for powering everything from smartphones to electric cars. This wealth under the soil has the power to propel young countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia into prosperity. But this boon is not without challenges; responsible mining practices are crucial to mitigate environmental damage and ensure that the mineral wealth translates into tangible benefits for local communities, preventing further inequalities.
Switching gears to India.
This young country is on a mission to harness the sun and wind to phase out its reliance on oil and electrify millions of homes. It is leveraging its economic momentum to lead initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, and by 2030, India will emerge as the world’s largest energy growth market. India is setting a sustainable course as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, proving that development doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment.
For these young countries, particularly those hammered by high unemployment, the booming clean energy sector represents a golden ticket.
As this industry grows, so does the demand for skilled workers, from solar panel installers to wind turbine technicians. Developed countries and international organizations can help developing countries build the future workforce and local infrastructure, creating stronger economies and reducing environmental harm.
Four Big Questions Leaders Need to Answer
1.
How can mineral-rich countries ensure local communities benefit without deepening inequality?
2.
How can we meet rising clean-tech mineral demand sustainably and responsibly for current and future generations?
3.
How can global leaders ensure fair resource distribution and tech transfer to developing nations?
4.
How can global collaboration build infrastructure and train young people in emerging clean energy markets?
Key Moments in 2025
Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Global Forum (March 11–14, 2025, Bridgetown, Barbados)
Co-hosted by Barbados, this forum will catalyze investments and actions for equitable energy access and a just transition.
Hamburg Sustainability Conference (June 2025, Hamburg, Germany)
Highlights innovative approaches to sustainable development and explores solutions for global environmental challenges.
G20 Summit 2025 (November 22–23, 2025, South Africa)
Leaders from the world’s largest economies will discuss equitable growth, financial stability, and sustainable policies.
Trend 8.
Voters Expect Change
The 2024 elections were nothing short of a political earthquake, shaking long-standing governments and bringing youth-led movements into the spotlight.
Across 74 nations, voters demanded change, with major upsets marking the year as a turning point for global democracy.
This year, the economy was the hot topic in elections across the globe.
In the United States, for example, voters ranked it as their top concern, with Trump supporters especially focused on economic challenges. And it’s not just an American issue—in Pew’s survey of 34 countries earlier this year showed that 64% of adults felt their national economy was in bad shape. In places like France, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, and the UK, that number jumped to more than 70%.
Looking ahead to 2025, several key elections will test whether the momentum from 2024 leads to lasting transformation.
In Germany, the collapse of the governing coalition has set the stage for a high-stakes election that could reshape Europe’s largest economy. With far right groups gaining ground, the results will have implications for both domestic stability and the broader European Union.
Canada will also hold federal elections, where the long-serving leadership faces growing criticism over immigration and affordability concerns, while opposition parties seek to capitalize on this discontent.
In Australia, two elections – one for the Senate and another for the House of Representatives – will test whether economic pressures and housing affordability concerns shift the balance of power.
In Tanzania, a country with a predominantly young population, voters will decide whether entrenched political dominance can give way to genuine democracy.
Meanwhile, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa, the world’s youngest leader, faces reelection amid economic and social challenges that could redefine leadership in Latin America. Gabon is set to hold landmark elections after constitutional reforms sparked hopes for a new democratic era.
In Kosovo, elections will be a test of resilience in a young democracy navigating ongoing regional tensions.
As these pivotal elections unfold, one critical question looms: can governments rebuild public trust?
Research highlights a strong connection between trust in domestic institutions and trust in global entities like the UN. People who feel disillusioned with their own political systems often extend that skepticism to broader international organizations. Restoring confidence in domestic governance, therefore, isn’t just a national imperative – it’s a global one. Governments that fail to meet voters’ demands for transparency, equity, and reform risk further eroding both local and international faith in democracy.
Four Big Questions Leaders Need to Answer
1.
What concrete steps will be taken to address inequities and frustrations, including inflation, inequality, and unemployment, which drove voter dissatisfaction in 2024?
2.
How can leaders ensure that young people – who are reshaping political landscapes – are meaningfully included in decision-making and governance?
3.
How can governments rebuild trust in domestic institutions to restore confidence in democracy and global organizations like the UN?
4.
What partnerships and coalitions can help address young people’s concerns and priorities on a global scale?
Key Moments in 2025
African Union Commission Senior Leadership Elections (February 2025, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Determines new leadership, shaping the AU’s strategic direction under Agenda 2063.
National Elections to Watch in 2025
Includes Australia, Belarus, Germany, Gabon, Tanzania, Canada, and Ecuador, highlighting key democratic transitions globally.
Second World Summit for Social Development (November 4–6, 2025, Qatar)
Focused on policies to tackle systemic inequities and injustices, this summit aims to adopt actionable outcomes to address citizens’ most urgent priorities.
Trend 9.
Addressing Global Resource Scarcity
The global economy is at a crossroads, and the stakes are huge, especially for young countries filled with young people.
Imagine this: in 2023, global debt hit an unimaginable $303 trillion. For many developing nations – where most of the population is under 30 – this debt isn’t just a number; it’s like trying to run a race with a hundred-pound backpack. Instead of spending on things that could transform lives, like better schools, hospitals, or clean energy, these countries are stuck paying off loans. This cycle of debt doesn’t just slow progress – it steals opportunities from the next generation.
Here’s the kicker: the very systems meant to help often make things worse.
Global institutions like the IMF and World Bank lend money but with strings attached. These strings – like cutting public spending – can mean fewer resources for building roads, improving education, or tackling climate disasters. It’s like borrowing money to fix your house, only to be told you can’t use it to repair the leaking roof. On top of that, debt relief programs are unpredictable, leaving these countries in constant limbo, unsure of how to plan for the future.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Ideas are on the table to shake things up. For instance, debt-for-climate swaps could let countries trade part of their debt for promises to protect rainforests, switch to clean energy, or invest in climate solutions. Imagine if a country like Brazil could reduce its debt by saving the Amazon – it’s a win for both the environment and the economy. Another bold idea is the Global Solidarity Levies, which propose taxing things like luxury items or financial transactions to create a steady flow of money for sustainable development. These aren’t just fancy concepts; they could be real game-changers if nations work together.
The broader challenge lies in overhauling an outdated global financial architecture that often favors the richest countries.
Right now, it’s like a game where the rules are written by those who already have all the advantages. Reforms could level the playing field by making loans more affordable or even shifting to grants that don’t need to be paid back. Imagine a world where young countries can focus on building their future instead of paying off their debt. This is about more than just money; it’s about fairness, opportunity, and a chance to secure a future for billions of young people.
Four Big Questions Leaders Need to Answer
1.
How can we create a fairer, transparent and inclusive global financial system that doesn’t trap young countries in cycles of debt?
2.
What bold steps can we take to mobilize sustainable funding for global development?
3.
How can wealthier nations take greater responsibility for historical emissions and global inequality?
4.
How can nations address the structural barriers to resource mobilization for sustainable development?
Key Moments in 2025
Finance in Common Summit (February 26–28, 2025, Cape Town, South Africa)
Focuses on public development banks’ role in achieving the SDGs through sustainable financing.
2025 ECOSOC Financing for Development (FfD) Forum (April 28–29, 2025, New York, USA)
A key platform for addressing global financing gaps, this forum will bring together policymakers, civil society, and private sector leaders to discuss actionable solutions for mobilizing resources to achieve the SDGs.
Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (June 2025, Seville, Spain)
This high-level event will focus on reforming global financial systems, including debt relief and innovative funding strategies, to better align with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Spring and Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank (April and October 2025)
These gatherings will bring together global economic leaders to discuss strategies for fostering financial stability, reducing poverty, and financing sustainable development initiatives.
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