As the deadline for the 2030 Agenda looms, ministers, experts, and civil society actors from around the world will convene in New York next week for a high-level UN forum to fast-track action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 2025 High-Level Political Forum , or HLPF, follows two recent successful UN conferences focused on vital development issues: one in June in Nice, France, dedicated to ocean protection , and another held in Sevilla, Spain, centred on boosting financing for sustainable initiatives .
The Sevilla meeting ended with a strong call to action : to urgently address the massive $4 trillion annual shortfall in financing needed to achieve the SDGs. It also highlighted the pressing need for greater investment and deep reform of the global financial system.
Held under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the forum will take place from 14 to 23 July at UN Headquarters in New York.
Here are five key things to know about this year's forum:
1. It's all about accelerating action
The HLPF is the United Nations' main platform for tracking global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals . It meets each year to review countries' efforts, share solutions, and push for faster action to meet the 2030 targets
The 2025 forum is convening under the theme:
Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals leaving no one behind.
This reflects a growing sense of urgency. With the 2030 deadline fast approaching, the forum will emphasise practical, data-driven strategies to close implementation gaps- particularly in the face of intersecting global crisis including climate change, inequality, and economic instability.
2. Five SDGs in the spotlight
Each year, the HLPF conducts in-depth reviews of selected Goals. In 2025, the focus will be on :
SDG 3: Good health and well-being
SDG 5: Gender equality
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
SDG 14: Life below water
SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
These Goals span a wide range of issues - from public health and gender equity to economic resilience and marine conservation.
SDG 17, which is reviewed annually, highlights the importance of revitalising global partnerships and enhancing means of implementation - including financing, which nations committed to just last month in Sevilla.
3. Countries will share their progress, voluntarily
A hallmark of the HLPF is the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) - self-assessments by Member States on their progress toward the SDGs. In 2025, dozens of countries are expected to present their VNRs, offering insights into both achievements and persistent challenges.
These reviews foster transparency, peer learning, and accountability. They also provide a platform for civil society and other stakeholders to engage directly with governments on development priorities.
VNR Labs - interactive sessions focused on national reviews - create space for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration
4. It's not just governments
While the HLPF is a UN intergovernmental platform, it brings together a diverse range of voices, including youth groups, local authorities, indigenous peoples, NGOs, academics, the private sector, and UN system agencies.
A rich programme of side events, exhibitions, and roundtable-discussions. This inclusive approach reflects the spirit of the 2030 Agenda, which recognises sustainable development is a universal, shared endeavour.
5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 The Final Countdown
With only five years left to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, the 2025 HLPF marks a critical inflection point.
It is more than a yearly check-in. This year's session comes at a time when science, solidarity, and urgent action must converge. It will help set the tone for the next Sustainable Development Goals Summit in 2027, where world leaders will take stock of collective progress and determine the final push toward 2030.
What happens now - at this two-thirds deadline moment - will shape whether the SDGs will realise a global promise or become a missed opportunity.
