The 24th edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) will take place from 5-7 March 2025 in New Delhi. Organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), WSDS is a key global platform dedicated to sustainable development and climate solutions.
As the only independently convened international summit on sustainability and the environment based in the Global South, WSDS 2025 will centre on the theme ‘Partnerships for Accelerating Sustainable Development and Climate Solutions.’ The summit will emphasise collaborative efforts to address climate challenges and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Shri Bhupender Yadav, India’s Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is expected to deliver the Opening Address. The event coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the adoption of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Key Discussions and Sessions
WSDS 2025 will feature seven high-level plenary sessions covering key themes such as sustainable finance, energy transitions, climate commitments, resilience, nature, innovations, and mainstreaming sustainable development. Additionally, over 24 thematic tracks will explore pressing sustainability challenges.
The summit will gather global leaders, policymakers, scientists, industry experts, and youth leaders to discuss strategies for accelerating SDG implementation. Key topics include enhancing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), India’s role in shaping the global climate action narrative, and preparations leading to COP30 and COP33.
Notable Speakers
Prominent speakers at WSDS 2025 will include:
- Prof Jim Skea, Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Mr Martin Raiser, Vice President, South Asia, The World Bank
- Prof Jeffrey Sachs, President, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
- Mr Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India
- Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
- Prof Petteri Taalas, Director General, Finnish Meteorological Institute
- Ms Dia Mirza, Actor, Producer, UN Secretary General’s Advocate for SDGs, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador
- Mr Manish Chourasia, Chief Operating Officer, Tata Capital Ltd
- Ms Helen Clarkson, CEO, Climate Group
- Ms Sujata Gupta, Director, Asian Development Bank
- Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
- Ms Amanda Maxwell, Managing Director, Global Division, Natural Resources Defense Council
- Dr Julie Reviere, Country Director, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Awards and Key Highlights
A major highlight of the summit will be the Sustainable Development Leadership Award (SDLA), which honours global leaders for their contributions to sustainability. Additionally, the event will see the release of knowledge documents and the Act4Earth Manifesto, encapsulating the summit’s key takeaways to drive year-round engagement.
Legacy of WSDS
Established in 2001 as the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, WSDS has played a pivotal role in shaping sustainability discourse for over two decades. The summit continues to drive global action through ministerial sessions, thematic tracks, and exhibitions showcasing green innovations.
WSDS 2025 aims to serve as a catalyst for collaboration, ensuring sustainable development remains a global priority.
