The role of science in accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
This 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) special event is being organized by the International Science Council (ISC), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and UN DESA. It will bring together approximately 300 participants, including representatives of Member States, UN entities, the scientific community, civil society, and youth organizations, to discuss the role of science in accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Science Day 2026 focuses on the practical role of science in accelerating SDG delivery and strengthening multilateral cooperation under current global conditions: Identifying where progress is stalling: Examining where and why progress on the SDGs is lagging, and how knowledge gaps, capacity constraints, and institutional challenges are limiting implementation. Accelerating impact through science: Highlighting where scientific knowledge is already helping to deliver results, while remaining clear-eyed about its limits and the conditions needed for it to be more effective. Strengthening science-policy interfaces: Exploring how evidence is translated into action, and what improvements are needed in how science is communicated, funded, and integrated into decision-making processes. Scaling what works: Showcasing technical, institutional, and policy innovations that strengthen science-policy collaboration and can be applied across contexts. Adapting for 2030 and beyond: Considering how science-policy partnerships must evolve to sustain momentum through 2030 and support how sustainable development will be advanced in the years ahead.
