Looking Ahead to 2030: Building a Sustainable Future Together

An Introduction to the Global SDGs and Leadership Development Center (GSLDC)

As the world enters the final stretch of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the global sustainable development agenda faces new urgency. With only approximately 17% of SDG indicators currently on track, and the adoption of the Pact for the Future in September 2024 calling for renewed ambition, the need for systematic capacity building and transformative leadership has never been greater.

The Global SDGs and Leadership Development Center (GSLDC), also known as the UNITAR SDGs Singapore Centre, is committed to bridging this gap — advancing the transition of the Sustainable Development Goals from concept to practice, and cultivating leaders with both a global perspective and the capacity to drive meaningful change.

Who We Are: A UNITAR-Established Capacity-Building Institution

GSLDC is an international capacity-building platform established by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Global Youth Leadership Development Council (GYLDC) in Singapore in November 2024. As the first dedicated platform within the UNITAR system in the Asia-Pacific region focused on SDG capacity building and leadership development, the Center draws on the global networks and professional resources of the United Nations system.

GSLDC focuses on core thematic areas including climate change, green finance, AI governance, and social innovation. With a mission to cultivate leaders in the field of sustainable development who possess both a global perspective and innovative capabilities, the Center has established a multi-level programme system encompassing youth leadership development, educator capacity enhancement, green campus initiatives, policy research, and international project practice.

By integrating education and training, policy research, technological innovation, and cross-sector collaboration, we have built extensive partnerships with government agencies, international organisations, universities, enterprises, and civil society organisations worldwide. Through joint curriculum development, collaborative research, expert network sharing, and international practical training, we continuously promote knowledge exchange and practical innovation in service of the 2030 Agenda — across the Asia-Pacific region and globally.

The Asia-Pacific region currently faces intersecting challenges, including intensifying climate change, mounting pressure on natural resources, and persistent social inequities, making the need for sustainable development more urgent than ever. GSLDC was established precisely in response to these regional and global imperatives, providing systematic training and cross-regional collaboration to develop the next generation of sustainability leaders.

Anchored in 2030: Our Mission and Vision in Action

Nearly a decade has passed since the 2030 Agenda introduced the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. With fewer than five years remaining to the deadline, and with SDG progress severely off-track in many areas, the challenges of climate change, the digital divide, and youth employment continue to deepen. Addressing them requires not only global consensus, but also systematic capacity building, well-prepared human capital, and effective cross-sector collaboration mechanisms. These are the core working directions of GSLDC.

Our Vision: A generation of visionary leaders uniting hearts, minds, and actions for a sustainable and equitable world.

Our Mission: Building bridges between learning, leadership, and innovation to turn collective vision into shared progress. We accelerate the transformation of the SDGs from concept to action by combining systematic learning, leadership development, and innovative practice — integrating the United Nations SDG framework with the development realities of the Asia-Pacific region and beyond to facilitate green transformation, equitable growth, and social inclusiveness.

Our Work: From Capacity Building to Innovative Practice

Focused on its core mission, GSLDC has developed a multi-tiered programme system encompassing youth leadership development, educator capacity enhancement, green campus initiatives, policy and standards research, and international project practice. The organisation advances three core directions to create a complete pathway from learning to real-world application.

Capacity Building

Anchored in the SDG policy framework, implementation tools, and real-world challenges, GSLDC provides specialised training and standardised courses for youth groups, educators, government officials, business managers, academic staff, and other stakeholders. These courses cover topics ranging from sustainable development policy to practical implementation methods, climate action, and volunteer engagement. Training formats are diverse — including online courses, offline workshops, case discussions, specialist training programmes, and Masterclass series — with an emphasis on integrating systems thinking and practical action to strengthen participants’ strategic understanding and implementation capabilities.

Leadership Development

GSLDC’s leadership programmes focus on building cross-cultural collaboration skills, systems thinking, and sustainable decision-making awareness, primarily among young people and practitioners in emerging fields. Through customised training programmes, cross-regional exchange initiatives, and youth leadership development tracks, participants are supported in taking on meaningful roles in global governance and local practice.

On 29 October 2025, GSLDC — as one of the core organisers of a related parallel forum — collaborated with the Youth Project Officer of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and partner organisations to convene the “New Opportunities of AI” parallel forum. The Center also jointly launched the Global Young Entrepreneurs Digital Innovation Case Study Programme with the China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC) and the International Trade Centre (ITC). The forum brought together young people from multiple countries for dialogue centred on two themes: AI empowering industrial development, and green consumption — reflecting GSLDC’s core direction of empowering youth and advancing sustainable development through innovation.

Innovation

GSLDC builds cross-sector cooperation platforms that leverage the strengths of government agencies, enterprises, and civil society organisations to support the incubation and implementation of sustainable development innovation projects. Core areas include climate action, green finance, AI governance, digital inclusivity, and urban sustainable development, with the aim of producing practical solutions that can be scaled and replicated across diverse contexts.

Through partnerships with regional stakeholders, GSLDC facilitates innovative activities aligned with the SDGs — focusing on themes such as green development and inclusive practice — to transform theoretical knowledge into tangible action.

Our Impact: Capacity Building with Global Reach

Since its establishment, GSLDC has engaged participants across more than 22 countries and regions, organised over 250 thematic events and conferences, connected with more than 24,000 young people and professionals, and brought together more than 360 international experts, scholars, and practitioners. The Center has achieved significant outcomes in capacity building, international cooperation, youth empowerment, and knowledge exchange.

Professional Training and Curriculum

GSLDC continues to offer a range of courses and programmes including in-depth SDG workshops, thematic Masterclass series, and youth leadership development tracks. The Center also advances initiatives for the cultivation and exchange of young scholars, providing learning and networking opportunities for emerging talent in the global sustainable development field.

International Exchange and Cooperation

GSLDC regularly organises high-level forums, thematic dialogues, and international conferences, and actively participates in key global sustainable development events. In June 2025, GSLDC participated for the second consecutive year in the annual meeting of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS). In October, GSLDC participated in the “Bridge for Cities” flagship event organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Xi’an, and facilitated a parallel dialogue on “New Opportunities of AI.” In November, during COP30 in Belém, Brazil, GSLDC cooperated with the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate Change (GAUC) and the OSG Youth Alliance to organise a thematic event titled “Youth in Action: Digital Innovation for a Sustainable Planet.”

Youth Innovation and Growth

In collaboration with the World Association of Young Scientists (WAYS) and the Wenzhou World Young Scientists Growth Foundation, GSLDC jointly established the “Young Scientist SDGs Award.” The third award ceremony was held at the World Young Scientists Summit 2025 (WYSS 2025) in October 2025. That same year, GSLDC signed a cooperation agreement with the World Green Design Organization (WGDO) to collaborate globally on the certification and training of young green designers, supporting their development in sustainable design practices.

Sustainability Through Art and Culture

GSLDC believes in the power of artistic and cultural expression to communicate the values of sustainable development and foster global solidarity. In July 2025, the “Beauty of the Earth” UN SDGs Youth Art Exhibition was held in the Rotunda of the United Nations City in Vienna. In August, GSLDC participated in the “Light of Life” Digital AI Youth Art Exhibition — an official event of the Osaka World Expo — showcasing the creative achievements of global youth in responding to sustainability challenges through art.

Our Network: Partnerships Driving Systemic Change

GSLDC has built extensive and enduring partnerships with government agencies, international organisations, universities, mission-aligned enterprises, and civil society organisations. These partnerships take the form of joint course development, collaborative research, expert network sharing, and international practical training — continuously advancing knowledge exchange and practical innovation in the fields of sustainable development and SDG implementation.

We welcome collaboration with educational institutions, governments, civil society organisations, and mission-aligned enterprises. If your institution is interested in training resources, international cooperation opportunities, or project partnerships in the field of sustainable development and the SDGs, we invite you to reach out and join us in advancing this shared agenda.

Join Us: Together Towards 2030

The countdown to 2030 has begun. Moving from SDG goals to practical action requires not only global consensus, but also sustained capacity building, collaborative innovation, and responsible leadership.

GSLDC aspires to be a platform that stimulates thinking, fosters collaboration, and drives action — providing SDG-relevant information and resources to all sectors, and empowering every participant and partner institution to realise their potential and contribute to the cause of sustainable development.

If you are engaged with global sustainable development and governance, committed to strengthening SDG implementation capacity within your organisation or community, or seeking opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and project participation, we invite you to visit:

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We also welcome you to share the SDG areas and issues most important to you. Your input will inform our ongoing work and help us deliver high-quality content and professional support where it matters most.