Statement by University Leaders in Support of The Summit of the Future – UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network

We university leaders from around the world are united in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and pledge to support governments, businesses, and civil society to achieve these goals. As members of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), we issue this statement to support the UN member states as they prepare for The Summit of the Future (SOTF).

SDSN was created in 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to help governments promulgate the SDGs, and then achieve them, through the education of young people, scholarly research, incubation of technical and institutional innovations, outreach to society, and active work with government, business, and other stakeholders. SDSN has around 2,000 member institutions in more than 140 nations. Its SDG Academy offers free online university courses and other educational materials across the range of sustainable development fields and topics. The SDSN is committed to supporting the UN in its vital efforts for peace, human rights, sustainable development.

The SDGs provide a unique and compelling framework to achieve sustainable development in all parts of the world and to leave no one behind. We take heart that governments around the world are striving to achieve the SDGs, as evidenced by the 188 of 193 UN member states that have presented Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to the High-Level Political Forum.

Nonetheless, accelerated actions are needed at the local, national, regional, and global levels to achieve the SDGs. To this date, progress is far too slow. This is the result of serious shocks to the world economy in recent years, including the pandemic, wars, and geopolitical tensions, and to the inadequacies of the Global Financial Architecture (GFA), which directs insufficient high-quality finance to the emerging and developing economies. Nonetheless, the SDG framework is proving invaluable to governments, business, and civil society. For this reason, we believe that at the Summit of the Future, the world’s governments should extend the mandate of the SDG framework to 2050, with updated high-ambition milestones and quantified objectives.

We also underscore the many specific observations on the SOTF agenda raised in the SDSN Statement on the Summit of the Future in the 2024 Sustainable Development Report.

On our part as university leaders, we pledge the continued best efforts of our universities to support the SDGs, the Paris Climate Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Framework for Biodiversity, and the other globally agreed goals for sustainable development. We firmly believe that universities have a unique responsibility and key role in helping our societies to move to sustainable development in the coming years.

We underscore the pivotal role of universities.

First, in today’s global knowledge economy, higher education is indispensable for economic success. Successful economies that are able to support high living standards and to be at the forefront of rapidly advancing technologies, must ensure that a significant proportion of young people achieve a tertiary education. Moreover, the qualified teachers for primary and secondary schools are also the product of the universities, and are vital in instilling a sustainable development ethos and the skill-sets for future leaders of our societies.

Second, the universities uniquely bring together the expertise spanning the natural sciences, engineering, social science, behavioral sciences, and the humanities, in order to address the sustainable development challenges, including the end of extreme poverty, social justice for all, and the successful fight for a safe climate and protection of biodiversity. This interdisciplinary strength supports innovative and cutting-edge solutions to complex SDG challenges.

Third, the universities undertake inclusive, interdisciplinary, problem-solving research on how to achieve the economic, social and environmental objectives of sustainable development, and are able to take into account the specific national conditions regarding culture, demography, patterns of development, physical geography, geopolitics, and global change.

Fourth, the universities are important convenors of governments, businesses, and civil society for a long-term, multi-stakeholder approach to sustainable development. Few other institutions in society have such close and trusted links with all major stakeholders and have the capacity, mandate and opportunity to take a long-term perspective on societal transformation.

Fifth, universities are essential and effective incubators for private-sector and civil-sector innovations and businesses. Cutting-edge new industries, and especially start-ups around the world, are co-located with universities.

Sixth, universities are globally interconnected, with extensive collaborations of scholars, joint degree programs, and networks of students. Universities in resource-plentiful settings partner with and support universities in resource-scarce settings, and can do more.

Seventh, each nation’s universities link the nation with academia in all parts of the world, and help to keep the nation’s economy and culture interconnected as well.

Eight, universities help to keep their nations connected with cutting-edge developments in science, technology, and culture in other parts of the world, and promote open science and the access of all nations to cutting-edge knowledge and technology.

As university leaders we pledge to do our part to harness these unique roles and responsibilities of the universities on behalf of our nations and the world community. We also commit to do more to engage Indigenous people’s worldviews and knowledge systems in sustainability, and to create the space for culturally diverse ways of addressing the sustainable development challenges and opportunities of our world today.

Specifically, on the occasion of the Summit of the Future, we pledge to do our part in the following areas:

Develop new education programs, including degree programs and professional certification programs, to train our students in the central challenges of sustainable development, including effective climate action;
Promote interdisciplinary education and research to identify solutions to the central challenges of sustainable development;
Work closely with governments at all levels – local, sub-national, national, and regional – – in order to devise new, bold, and science-based strategies to achieve the SDGs in all of their dimensions: economic wellbeing, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and global peace and cooperation;
Work closely with the business community and entrepreneurs to incubate new start-ups that can advance technological solutions for the national economy and the SDGs;
Work with indigenous peoples to mobilize their knowledge systems, expertise, and world views in fashioning approaches to education, research, and policy making;
Strive to make our own campuses fully sustainable, shifting to renewable energy, circular economy, resource efficiency, and the protection of biodiversity;
Utilize the new online technologies to expand our delivery of quality education and to enable greater access in the population, while also enhancing on-site education on our campuses;
Partner with universities across the world, through the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and via other collaborations and networks, promoting exchanges of faculty and students, joint programs, innovative curricula, open science, and practical support as helpful for universities in resource-scarce settings.
Promote innovation and technology transfer, including green technologies to enhance the prospects of a successful transition to net-zero energy systems;
Work closely with governments and SDSN to boost research outputs in the emerging and developing economies.
Work closely with SDSN to develop student programs to foster peace, appreciation of cultural diversity, and enhance conflict prevention and resolution at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.

The world today yearns for solutions – to end wars, vanquish poverty and hunger, end social exclusion, and ensure environmental sustainability. The family on nations must rise to occasion to give hope, succor, and practical pathways to the future that we want. Universities around the world pledge to do their part. The commitment to our common global home, and to the world’s youth and future generations, is at the essence of our purpose and role.

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List of University Signatories

Prof. Taofik Adewale, Director of Centre for Research and Development, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria
Ilesanmi Adesida, Acting President and Provost, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
Prof. Johnson Adesodun, Rector, Ekiti State Polytechnic,Isan-Ekiti, Nigeria
Santiago Acosta Aide, Rector, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Ecuador
Dr. Adenike A. Akinsemolu, The Green Institute, Nigeria
José Luján Alcaraz, President, University of Murcia, Spain
Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana, Ghana
Prof. Dr. Biljana Angelova, Rector, Ss Cyril and Methodius University, North Macedonia
Norah Aziamin Asongu, Doctor, University of Yaounde, Cameroon
Raiane Patrícia Severino Assumpção, Reitora, Universidade Federal de São Paulo – UNIFESP, Brazil
Dr. Benoit- Antoine Bacon, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of British Columbia, Canada
Miguel Sopas de Melo Bandeira, Pro-Rector, University of Minho, Portugal
Dr. Fana Hagos Berhane, President, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Raquel Bernal, Rector, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia
Professor Rufus Black, Vice-Chancellor, University of Tasmania, Australia
Dr. José Manuel Saniger Blesa, Secretary of Research and Development and Chair of SDSN Mexico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
Professor Freddy Boey, President, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Dr. Baribeshya Jean Bosco, Vice Chancellor, Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (INES- Ruhengeri), Rwanda
Tim Brailsford, Vice Chancellor, Bond University, Australia
Roque Brandão, Vice-president of Intituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP), School of Engineering of Polytechnic of Porto, Portugal
Dr. Kevin Brown, President, University of Technology Jamaica, Jamaica
Pueyo Campos, Vice-President for Planning, Sustainability and Infrastructure, University Zaragoza, Spain
Graham Carr, President and Vice-Chancellor, Concordia University, Canada
Francesco Castelli, Deputy Rector, University of Brescia, Italy
John Jairo Arboleda Céspedes, Rector, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia
Cheat Chealy, Rector, Royal University, Cambodia
Prof. Tan Eng Chye, President, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Prof. Philip Cotton, Vice Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda
Prof. Tasman Crowe, Vice-President for Sustainability, University College Dublin, Ireland
Sophie D’Amours, Rectrice, Université Laval, Canada
Lusine Danielyan, Director of External Affairs, Armenian State University of Economics, Armenia
Patricia M. Davidson, Vice Chancellor and President, University of Wollongong, Australia
Principal Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University, Canada
Professor Andrew Deeks, Vice Chancellor and President, Murdoch University, Australia
Prof. Rosa Devés, Rectora, Universidad de Chile, Chile
Dr. Raman Dhaliwal, Associate Vice-President, University of Manitoba, Canada
Ignacio Sanchez Diaz, President, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
Prof. (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
Dimitar Dimitrov Professor, University of National and World Economy, Bulgaria
Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr., Mohd Fadhil Bin Md, Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia
President KIM Dong-One, President, Korea University, South Korea
Professor Doran, Interim President, Technological University Dublin, Ireland
Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Enrique Etchevarren, Academic Secretary and Interim Rector, Universidad de Montevideo, Uruguay
Hong Tat Ewe, President, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia
Professor Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria
Dato’ Prof. Dr. Ahmad Farhan bin Mohd Sadullah, Vice Chancellor, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Luis Ferreira, Rector, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
Profa. Dra. Karen Spadari Ferreira, PhD, Diretora da Secretaria de Relações Internacionais, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
Professor Ian Findlay, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Puthisastra, Cambodia
Dr. Orla Flynn, Atlantic Technological University, Ireland
Natassa Frederickou, President of the Council, Frederick University, Cyprus
Carla Fresquez, Director of Sustainability, UC Davis, USA
Francisco Javier García Rodríguez, Rector, University of La Laguna, Spain
Luis Garcia-Ghezzi, General Secretary, Universidad Austral, Argentina
Owunari Abraham Georgewill, Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Kevin Hall, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Victoria, Canada
Dr. David Halliwell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Partnerships, University of Victoria, Canada
Dr. José Antonio De los Reyes Heredia, General Rector, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico
Maria Augusta Hermida, President, Universidad de Cuenca, Spain
Simon S.M. Ho, President, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Professor Holenu Mangenda Holy, Rector, Simon Kimbangu University, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dr. Nida Hussain, President, Ziauddin University, Pakistan
Prof. Yahaya Zayyana Ibrahim, Professor (Associate) in Global Environmental Change and Geospatial Analysis and Director Academic Planning, African Aviation and Aerospace University, Abuja, Nigeria
Professor Patrícia Iglecias, Head of Environment, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Naci İnci, Chair of SDSN Türkiye – Rector of Boğaziçi University, SDSN Türkiye – Boğaziçi University, Türkiye
Sothy Khieng, Professor, CamTech University, Cambodia
Tim Killeen, President, University of Illinois System, USA
Prof. Koffi Kouakou, President, Université Alassane Ouattara, Côte d’Ivoire
Kanat Kozhakhmet, President, Narxoz University, Kazakhstan
Phouphet Kyophilavong, Vice President, National University of Laos, Laos
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dukagjin Leka, Public University “Kadri Zeka”, Serbia
Rongyu Li, Vice-President (Global Engagement), The University of Queensland, Australia
Professor Matteo Lorito, UNIVERSITA’ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI FEDERICO II DOCENTI, Italy
Jacky Lumarque, Rector, Université Quisqueya, Haiti
Ali MAHAMANE, Former Rector of the University of Diffa, Currently Prof. Dr. Ir. at the University Abdou Moumouni of Niamey, University Abdou Moumouni, Niger
Gregor Majdič, Rector, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Yasutomo Nasu, President, Okayama University, Japan
Prof. Stavros Malas, President, The Cyprus Institute, Cyprus
Fr Stephen Mavely, Vice-Chancellor, Assam Don Bosco University, India
Adolfo Meisel, President, Universidad del Norte, Colombia
Essam Shaban Bersy Mohamed, Assistant Professor, American University in Cairo, Egypt
Pornchai Mongkhonvanit, President, Siam University, Thailand
Professor J A Ian Montgomery, Ulster University, Northern Ireland
Professor MT Mosia, Interim Vice Chancellor and Principal, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Lauren Müller de Pacheco, Rectora, Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra – UPSA, Bolivia
Dr. Erold Naomab, Vice-Chancellor, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Namibia
Atsufumi Yokoi, Vice President, Okayama University, Japan
Valeriy Naumyk, Vice-Rector, National University “Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic”, Ukraine
Prof. Dr. Nelus Niemandt, Rector, Hugenote Kollege, South Africa
Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President, The President of University of Galway, Ireland
John O’Halloran, President, University College Cork, Ireland
Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC, President, De La Salle University, Philippines
Professor Temi E. Ologunorisa, Vice Chancellor, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Nigeria
Hor Peng, Rector, National University of Management, Cambodia
Manuel Perez-Mateos, Rector, University of Burgos, Spain
Marilen Gabriel Pirtea, Rector, West University of Timișoara, Romania
Prof. Irene Polycarpou, Rector of UCLan Cyprus & President of the Cyprus Rectors’ Conference, UCLan Cyprus, Cyprus
Prof. Sibrandes Poppema, President, Sunway University, Malaysia
Philippos Pouyioutas, Rector, University of Nicosia, Cyprus
Pr. Mamy Ravelomanana, President, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
Professor Daya Reddy, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Robert G. Ridley, Vice-Chancellor, Unicaf University, Malawi
JULIÁN ESTEBAN RODRÍGUEZ, Rector, Universidad Austral, Argentina
Elisabeth Rukmini, Vice Rector, Universitas Pembangunan Jaya, Indonesia
Honglim Ryu, President, Seoul National University, Korea
João Sàágua, Rector, Nova University, Portugal
Jeffrey D. Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), University Professor, and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University, USA
Dr. Enrique Castañeda Saldaña, President, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru
Jaba Samushia, Rector, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Georgia
Prof. Isaac Sanga Kosgey, Moi University, Kenya
Rath Sethik, PhD, Dean of Faculty of Development Studies, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Juraj Sipko, Director at Institute of Economic Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia
Professor SK Sobhee, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mauritius, Mauritius
President Prof. Jin- Guang Teng, President, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Alexandra Teodosio, Vice-Rector for Internationalization and Sustainable Development, University of Algarve, Portugal
Suvit Sae Tia, President, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand
Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Victor Udo, Director of Campus Sustainability, Bucknell University, USA
Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President, Smith College, USA
Professor Barry Winn, Vice-Chancellor and President, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
Professor Joseph Wong, Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes, VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY, Philippine