WSDS 2024: The 23rd World Sustainable Development Summit, organised by TERI, will bring together policymakers, thought leaders, and experts to discuss sustainability, climate justice, and leadership
A global summit called the 23rd World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) will be held from February 7-9 and organised by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The summit will bring together thought leaders, policymakers, and experts from the Global South to discuss environmental sustainability and social equity. The summit addresses challenges such as conflict, planetary crises, and setbacks in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Vice President of India is expected to inaugurate the summit, which will host prominent speakers, including ministers from Fiji, Kiribati, and Spain, as well as representatives from the World Bank and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The summit will emphasise the crucial role of visionary leadership in steering the world towards sustainability under the theme "Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice."
Besides the opening and closing sessions, the summit will feature 11 plenary sessions and high-level discussions on women's leadership, businesses, and youth.
Prominent speakers include Mark Phillips, Prime Minister of Guyana, and Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change.
Other speakers at the summit include Vatimi Rayalu, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Fiji; Willie Tokataake, Minister, Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE), Kiribati; Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa; Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, Minister, Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Spain; Martin Raiser, Vice President for South Asia Region, The World Bank; Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Environment, Sri Lanka; and Hoesung Lee, Former Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Other notable speakers include Garcetti, United States Ambassador to the Republic of India; Dia Mirza, Actor & Goodwill Ambassador – UNEP; Dr Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for ; and Jim Skea, Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Emphasising on the urgent need to amplify the voices of Global South, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, underscored, “The theme for the summit underscores the imperative for decisive action, visionary leadership, and collective responsibility. TERI is honoured to spearhead this dialogue, fostering innovative solutions and strategies for a sustainable and just future."
Highlighting the pivotal role of WSDS in advancing discussions on sustainable development and climate action Dr Shailly Kedia, Curator, WSDS, and Senior Fellow, TERI emphasised, “We are living in a time of polycrisis. Key challenges confronting the world include planetary crises, sliding back of key sustainable development goals and the ever-growing conflict situation threatening world peace.”
She added, it is more important than ever that environment stewardship is promoted at all levels and across all spheres. Today’s challenges for attaining sustainable development are complex and interconnected and will need everyone to work towards creating a more sustainable future. In this context, the World Sustainable Development Summit 2024 will be held under the umbrella theme of Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice.”