Top SDG + Data Events in 2025
All the information you need to stay up-to-date on the Sustainable Development Goals
Every year, our team at SDGCounting tracks numerous events to bring you the most relevant insights into how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are measured, monitored, and reported. We focus on the data and discussions shaping the future of the Global Goals.
This year, we have included several technology-focused events as breakthroughs in AI and big data will transform our work with development statistics.
Below is our list of the top events to watch in 2025, along with details on our coverage of past events.
- WEF Annual Meeting
- UN Statistical Commission
- South By Southwest (SXSW)
- GTC AI Conference
- Skoll World Forum
- Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the SDGs
- Data + AI Summit
- AI For Good Global Summit
- High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
- UN General Assembly and Global Goals Week
Science Summit | ICSD | Concordia | Global Compact Leaders Summit | Devex @ UNGA | Goalkeepers | Clinton Global Initiative | Business Fights Poverty - Global Science, Technology and Innovation Conference (G-STIC) 2025
- Second World Summit for Social Development
- UN Climate Change Conference
- UN World Data Forum
WEF Annual Meeting
World Economic Forum
20–24 January 2025 | Davos
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting gathers global leaders and industry experts to address emerging challenges and opportunities. This event frequently sets the tone for the conversations and themes that will shape the coming year.
Visit the Forum’s official page and read our reflection on what the meeting revealed about the future of the SDGs:
UN Statistical Commission
UN Statistics Division
4–7 March 2025 | NYC
The United Nations Statistical Commission, established in 1946, is the highest body of the global statistical system bringing together the Chief Statisticians from member states from around the world. It is the highest decision making body for international statistical activities, responsible for setting of statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national and international level.
Although its focus tends to be technical, our team will closely monitor the sessions and side events that are most relevant for our readers.
South By Southwest (SXSW)
3–15 March 2025 | Austin
Often associated with musical performances and films, SXSW also offers thousands of discussions and presentations that provide a glimpse into emerging cultural and technological trends. This year, our team is covering both the main festival and the EDU conference that precedes it.
SXSW EDU, taking place from March 3 to 6, currently features over 500 sessions.
The main festival is slated for March 7–15 and has over 3,200 events including 1,600 sessions.
GTC AI Conference
Nvidia
17–21 March 2025 | San Jose
AI is transforming how we handle and use information, and Nvidia stands out as a key player in this evolution. We even covered their keynote at CES 2025 to showcase how these advancements are shaping our world. With over a thousand sessions already listed, many focus on SDG-related themes such as education, health, and the future of employment.
Skoll World Forum
Skoll Foundation
1–4 April 2025 | Oxford
Taking place from April 1–4, 2025, in Oxford, United Kingdom and online, the Skoll World Forum gathers global leaders, social entrepreneurs, and innovators to drive transformational change. This event spotlights cutting-edge solutions across environmental, political, and social sectors, fostering a collaborative environment to tackle pressing global challenges. Marking over two decades of impact, the Forum continues to inspire actionable ideas and scalable progress toward a more equitable and sustainable future.
Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the SDGs
UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
7–8 May 2025 | NYC
Commonly known as the STI Forum, this annual event runs alongside the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). It delves into the contributions of science and technology toward achieving the SDGs, with a focus on health, gender equality, economic growth, ocean conservation, and global partnerships.
Data + AI Summit
Databricks
9–12 June 2025 | San Francisco
The Data + AI Summit is a four-day event hosted by Databricks. It includes panel discussions, networking opportunities, and training workshops on topics such as data engineering, data governance, and machine learning. Past conference panels and training sessions are available on YouTube. Discounted tickets are available with group-rate pricing.
AI For Good Global Summit
International Telecommunications Union
8–11 July 2025 | Geneva
The AI For Good Global Summit is an international gathering that unites policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and civil society to explore the transformative power of artificial intelligence in tackling global challenges. It serves as a dynamic platform for exchanging innovative ideas and best practices aimed at leveraging AI for sustainable development, humanitarian aid, and environmental protection. While much of the current UN discourse on AI centers on the need for regulation, this summit spotlights the technology’s capacity for positive change.
High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
UN Economic and Social Concil (ECOSOC)
14–23 July 2025 | NYC
The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is the United Nations’ primary platform for monitoring and advancing progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It convenes member states, stakeholders, and experts to share experiences, tackle challenges, and showcase best practices in implementing the SDGs.
UN General Assembly and Global Goals Week
United Nations
September 2025 | NYC
The highest concentration of SDG-related events occurs during the UN General Assembly in September, along with a series of activities known as Global Goals Week. Here are a few we will be paying close attention to.
Science Summit
ISC Intelligence
6–26 September 2025
The Science Summit focuses on the pivotal role of science in addressing global challenges while respecting planetary boundaries. Science for a Sustainable Future: Showcasing Science Collaboration
International Conference on Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development Solutions Network
10–11 September 2025
The International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD) provides a forum for academia, government, civil society, UN agencies, and the private sector to come together to share practical solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Concordia Annual Summit
Concordia
21–24 September 2025
With over a decade of experience bringing together heads of state, leaders of the private and NGO sectors, and new and diversified perspectives to explore tangible solutions to local and global challenges, the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit will maintain its position as the largest and most inclusive nonpartisan forum alongside the UN General Assembly
Leaders Summit
UN Global Compact
23 September 2025
During the UN General Assembly high-level week, this year’s UN Global Compact Leaders Summit will again convene business leaders, UN officials, Government leaders, SDG stakeholders and civil society professionals from across the globe committed to raising the bar on sustainability. The 2025 Leaders Summit will provide global sustainability leaders the tools, network, knowledge, and inspiration needed to scale the impact of private sector contributions to the 2030 Agenda.
Devex @ UNGA
23–25 September 2025 | NYC
Join us for Devex’s events on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week. In a rapidly changing world, addressing global challenges is more urgent than ever. The future can’t wait for solutions to health crises, climate change, technological risks, and systemic inequalities.
Goalkeepers
Gates Foundation
September 2025
The Goalkeepers community is a global collective of collaborative and diverse changemakers. Members include both emerging and well-known leaders who live all over the world and represent an eclectic range of cultures, professions, and interests.
Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting
Clinton Foundation
24–25 September 2025
President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and Dr. Chelsea Clinton will convene the Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative on September 24–25, 2025, in New York City, bringing together leaders from business, government, and civil society for a meeting focused on what’s working, and how we can bridge divides to solve our most urgent crises.
https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-initiative-september-2025-meeting/
Global Goals Summit 2025
Business Fights Poverty
25 September 2025
With just five years left to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, join peers from business and the international development community during UN General Assembly Week for our annual flagship event. Learn how business partnerships can accelerate progress and deliver a fairer, more resilient future.
Global Science, Technology and Innovation Conference (G-STIC) 2025
7–9 October 2025 | Pretoria
The Eighth G-STIC Conference will focus on the theme, ‘Accelerating Technological Solutions for the SDGs’. The event aims to build bridges between policymaking and technological innovation to harmonize technological, policy, and business solutions in response to global climate challenges, development needs, and regional conflicts and to accelerate SDG achievement.
Second World Summit for Social Development
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
4–6 November 2025 | Qatar
Taking place in Doha, this summit will convene Heads of State and Government to address critical gaps in social development, reaffirm the principles of the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration, and outline the necessary actions to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through high-level dialogue and consensus-driven negotiations, the summit aims to produce a succinct political declaration that will drive social inclusion, eradicate poverty, and foster equitable growth worldwide.
COP30 — UN Climate Change Conference
10–21 November 2025 | Belém, Brazil
COP30 will convene global leaders and climate negotiators to evaluate progress on emission reductions and bolster efforts under the Paris Agreement. This pivotal conference marks a critical step in the international fight against climate change by offering a forum for high-stakes negotiations and collaborative action. Given the inherently contentious nature of climate discussions, COP30 is an event that demands close attention.
UN World Data Forum
UN Statistics Division
2026 | Riyadh
Although scheduled for 2026, the UN World Data Forum is a cornerstone event for our mission to track data on the SDGs. This gathering offers a pivotal platform for discussing advancements in data collection, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that we stay at the forefront of sustainable development metrics. Its focus on data-driven insights aligns perfectly with our commitment to monitoring progress toward the Global Goals.
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Disclaimer: Generative AI tools were used in the creation of this article to assist with research, summarization, and editing.
