Will 2025 be the year we finally fix our climate – at the 30th time of asking?
After three back-to-back COPs in 2024, there’s just one big global environmental conference on the horizon for 2025: the COP30 climate summit in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon.
But fear not – even if you don’t make it to Belém, there are countless other opportunities to learn, network and showcase your work at climate events across the globe this year.
From youth forums to agroforestry conferences to high-level summits on sustainable development, here’s your guide to the most important climate events of 2025.
When: 5 February 2025
Where: UN Headquarters, New York, NY, United States
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will host its 2025 Partnership Forum under the theme ‘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 Forum will focus on five Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being); Goal 5 (Gender Equality); Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth); Goal 14 (Life Below Water); and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
When: 5–7 March 2025
Where: New Delhi, India
The 24th edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) will focus on the pivotal role of partnerships in catalyzing transformative action and advancing global sustainability objectives.
Under the theme ‘partnerships for accelerating sustainable development and climate solutions,’ it aims to outline a clear action plan to strengthen partnerships among governments, businesses, civil society, and other key stakeholders to drive meaningful change and lasting impact.
When: 12–13 March 2025
Where: Tokyo, Japan
Hosted by Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation, the 12th World Ocean Summit aims to instigate action to develop the sustainable ocean economy and to encourage new partnerships across industries.
The summit will focus on the transition to a sustainable ocean economy, ocean stewardship, strategies to restore ocean health, advancements in marine technology and collaborative efforts to address ocean pollution.
When: 12–13 March 2025
Where: UN Headquarters, New York, NY, United States
The Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) is a multi-stakeholder platform within the United Nations established to address trends and progress in international development cooperation.
Operating on a two-year cycle, it focuses on key areas such as enhancing the strategic role of development cooperation, improving effectiveness through partnerships, and leveraging South-South and triangular cooperation.
When: 12–13 March 2025
Where: Bridgetown, Barbados
The 2025 SEforALL Global Forum will be co-hosted by Sustainable Energy for All and the government of Barbados, led by Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
Under the theme of ‘sustainable energy for equity, security and prosperity,’ this year’s Forum will focus on catalyzing the actions and investment needed for countries to achieve their energy access, climate and development goals.
When: 2–5 April 2025
Where: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The Global Youth Climate Summit 2025 will bring together 500 youth from across the Global South and beyond to tackle the urgent challenges of climate change, deforestation and species extinction.
Hosted at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil, the summit will expand young people’s knowledge of climate science, build their leadership skills and support them in their climate action initiatives.
Through this summit, young leaders will gain the knowledge and tools they need to protect their communities and safeguard the ecosystems that all life depends on.
When: 15–17 April 2025
Where: UN Headquarters, New York, NY, United States
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum provides a platform for young people to engage in a dialogue with Member States and other stakeholders to share their views and concerns, as well as galvanize actions and recommendations to transform the world into a fairer, greener and more sustainable place.
The Forum will be guided by the 2025 theme of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum (HLPF): ‘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.’
When: 30 April–1 May 2025
Where: Lisbon, Portugal
Future Days is a festival for futures and systemic thinkers, innovation seekers, creatives, purpose-driven organizations and policymakers to collectively create the futures of urban lives, equitable societies through and beyond technology.
The 2025 edition will focus on four main themes: grounding in the local context, synergetic ecosystems for urban resilience, governance paradigms and regenerative communities, and collective intelligence for a cultural landscape.
When: 21–23 May 2025
Where: Madrid, Spain
Despite progress, no country has yet achieved gender equality. Feminist movements and civil society organizations are crucial to drive change, yet they often operate with limited resources, especially in the Majority World. The rise of well-funded anti-rights movements and reductions in Official Development Assistance further challenge these efforts.
The Financing for Feminist Futures conference seeks to address these issues by gathering a diverse group of activists, policymakers, government representatives, members of civil society and private donors to get more and better funding for gender equality.
When: 26–30 May 2025
Where: Kemptville, ON, Canada
The International Model Forest Network (IMFN) will host a Global Forum in the Eastern Ontario Model Forest in Canada from 26–30 May 2025, which will attract up to 200 delegates representing over 60 Model Forests from around the world.
The IMFN Global Forum is a business, technical, and networking meeting in which members share knowledge, review their accomplishments, address challenges, and agree on Network‐wide and other strategic plans and initiatives for the three‐year period following the Global Forum.
The GLF will be hosting a side event at the IMFN Global Forum. Stay tuned for more details.
When: 9–13 June 2025
Where: Nice, France
France and Costa Rica will co-host the high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference).
The overarching theme of the Conference is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”. The Conference aims to support further and urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and identify further ways and means to support the implementation of SDG 14.
When: 16–26 June 2025
Where: Bonn, Germany
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is set to host the 62nd sessions of its subsidiary bodies at its headquarters in Bonn, Germany.
When: 14–23 July 2025
Where: UN Headquarters, New York, NY, United States
The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will be convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The theme of the HLPF 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”.
When: 10–11 September 2025
Where: Rome, Italy
Hosted by the European Center of Sustainable Development in collaboration with the Canadian Institute of Technology, the 13th ICSD 2025 aims to address the critical challenge of human, environmental and economic sustainability in a global context.
This year’s conference will be held under the theme ‘Creating a unified foundation for the Sustainable Development: research, practice and education.’
When: 9–15 October 2025
Where: Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress is the largest gathering of nature conservation experts, leaders and decision-makers in the world. It will help shape global priorities for nature conservation and climate change for the coming decade and beyond.
The IUCN Congress will address ways to deliver the Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted by over 190 countries at the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference.
When: 12–14 October 2025
Where: Berlin, Germany, and online
Stay tuned for details to be announced via the official event website.
When: 20–24 October 2025
Where: Kigali, Rwanda
The World Congress on Agroforestry is an international event that brings together different stakeholders in agroforestry to exchange on the advancement of research and practices in agroforestry systems, natural resource management and climate change adaptation and mitigation for sustainable and resilient agro-ecosystems.
Under the main theme of Agroforestry for People, Planet and Profit, the 6th World Congress on Agroforestry 2025 will bring together leading experts to share their latest research, innovations, and practices in the field of agroforestry.
When: 4–6 November 2025
Where: Doha, Qatar
The Second World Summit for Social Development will address gaps in and recommit to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action and its implementation.
Hosted by Qatar and co-facilitated by the permanent representatives of Belgium and Morocco to the UN, the summit aims to deliver a short and concise political declaration adopted by consensus with a social development approach that will build momentum to implement the 2030 Agenda.
When: 10–21 November 2025
Where: Belém, Brazil
Last year, virtually no country left COP29 happy after a much watered-down deal on climate finance brokered by beleaguered hosts Azerbaijan. Will Brazil do better in charge of COP30?
The GLF will be hosting a side event and providing live coverage from COP30. Stay tuned for more details.
Organizing an event? Get in touch to be featured on this list!
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