Charting a new course toward economic, social, and environmental progress

As the world enters the third decade of the 21st century, concurrent global crises of pandemic disease, economic contraction, systemic inequities, and severe environmental degradation are evolving amid a rebirth of nationalism, rapid technological change, hyper-fragmented public debates, and breakdowns in international cooperation. Against that backdrop, the sustainable development goals, as established by all countries at the United Nations in 2015, form a crucial “North Star” for the community of nations in charting a new course toward economic, social, and environmental progress by 2030.

In response, the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings is committed to supporting international, U.S., and networked societal leadership for sustainable development and launched a dedicated Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) with an event on Wednesday, October 21. This included an address from Brookings President John R. Allen and keynote remarks from U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, followed by a panel with her and Dr. Raj Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation, moderated by CSD Director and Senior Fellow John McArthur. The event concluded with distinguished leaders from around the world sharing their congratulations, words of wisdom, and calls to action via prerecorded videos.

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