Besides the opening and closing sessions, the summit will feature 11 plenary sessions and high-level discussions on women’s leadership, businesses and youth

The 23 World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), a global gathering organised by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), is set to take place from February seven to nine. Aimed at fostering discussions on environmental sustainability and social equity, the summit will convene thought leaders, policymakers, and experts from the Global South to address challenges such as conflicts, planetary crises, and setbacks in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Expected to be inaugurated by the Vice President of India, the summit boasts an impressive lineup of speakers, including ministers from Fiji, Kiribati, and Spain, as well as representatives from the World Bank and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Themed “Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice,” the summit underscores the pivotal role of visionary leadership in steering the world towards sustainability.

The event, featuring 11 plenary sessions and high-level discussions on women’s leadership, businesses, and youth, will host prominent figures such as Mark Phillips, Prime Minister of Guyana, and Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change.

Notable participants include Vatimi Rayalu, Minister of Agriculture and Waterways, Fiji; Willie Tokataake, Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE), Kiribati; Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa; Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, Minister of the 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).

Additional 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; and Jim Skea, Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, highlighted the summit’s theme, emphasizing the need for decisive action, visionary leadership, and collective responsibility. Dr. Shailly Kedia, Curator, WSDS, and Senior Fellow, TERI, stressed the importance of promoting environmental stewardship at all levels, especially given the complex and interconnected challenges facing sustainable development today. The summit, themed “Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice,” aims to facilitate dialogue, fostering innovative solutions and strategies for a sustainable and just future.