The High-Level Political Forum 2025 focuses on five Sustainable Development Goals: health, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, ocean sustainability, and partnerships for the goal.
From July 14 to July 23, 2025, world leaders, policymakers, and experts will gather at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City for the High-Level Political Forum 2025. This annual event is the UN’s central platform for reviewing global progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also plays a key role in pushing governments to stay accountable and committed to improving global well-being.
The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development was created in 2012 at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). Its goal is to provide leadership and recommendations for implementing the 2030 Agenda. The SDGs cover a wide range of global challenges, including poverty, health, education, gender equality, climate action, and more.
Each year, the forum tracks how countries are progressing on these goals and encourages them to do more. It also allows governments, civil society, and experts to exchange ideas and launch new partnerships. Every four years, the forum is elevated to a summit of heads of state and government, known as the “SDG Summit.” The last one was held in September 2023.
The High-Level Political Forum 2025 theme is “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind.” This year’s discussions will highlight the need for fact-based decision-making and inclusive policies that work for all communities.
The forum will conduct in-depth reviews of five specific SDGs:
- SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
- SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
- SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all
- SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas, and marine resources
- SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize global partnerships for sustainable development
These goals were selected for their wide-reaching impact. For example, SDG 3 focuses on universal health access, which affects global resilience to pandemics and non-communicable diseases. SDG 5 emphasizes gender equality in all aspects of life, while SDG 8 covers job creation, especially in countries with high youth unemployment. SDG 14 addresses ocean sustainability at a time when marine ecosystems face increasing threats from pollution and overfishing.
A total of 37 countries will present their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) at the High-Level Political Forum 2025. These reviews show what each country is doing to meet the SDGs and offer a chance to learn from one another. This year’s presenters include:
Angola, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Micronesia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, and Thailand.
These reviews can help identify successful strategies and highlight where support is needed most. For instance, a country like Bangladesh might showcase how it has improved access to education, while a country like Seychelles could share strategies for marine conservation.
See also: All the Major Climate Events of 2025
The High-Level Political Forum 2025 will bring together government officials, heads of UN agencies, academic experts, activists, and representatives from major global stakeholder groups. Their combined expertise will help shape the forum’s recommendations and encourage broader participation in sustainable development.
As the world approaches 2030, the High-Level Political Forum 2025 serves as both a progress check and a push forward. It reminds governments of their commitments, provides a space to learn and adapt, and opens the door to new collaborations. What happens in New York this July could influence global development for years.
