SDGCounting

Food and climate at COP30: 5 things to watch in Belém In Belém, leaders face a test: can the world protect forests, feed people and fund climate action at the same time — and prove it with concrete commitments?

Food systems at COP30: can the world protect forests, feed people and fund action—then prove delivery? Briefing: www.devex.com/news/food-an...

OECD’s new study shows how SMEs are actually using generative AI—and where skills and training are lagging. Policy takeaway: pair adoption with inclusion.

Report: www.oecd.org/en/publicati...

Big Earth Data diagnoses a Decade of Global SDG Progress The Global-Scale Sustainable Development Scientific Monitoring Report (2025): A Decade of Progress through the Lens of Big Earth Data was officially launched

Data gap? Big Earth Data is helping close it. The UNESCO-CBAS report makes global SDG monitoring more timely and spatially detailed. A must-read for NSOs, technologists and impact investors.

www.unesco.org/en/articles/...

ITU Podcasts The International Telecommunication Union’s podcast series looks at how technology is shaping the world around us.

Interested in #Tech, #AI and the #SDGs but don't have time to read a bunch of reports?

Then check out the ITU podcasts:

unric.org/en/itu-podca...

COP30 May Mark A Turning Point For Impact Capital And Climate Ambition Impact investing and climate pledges are losing ambition. COP30 in Belém must reignite finance for resilience, or risk a new age of retreat.

Great article by Felicia Jackson in @Forbes on the climate around the climate conference.

From investment and funding, to markets and policy, a great read to understand the trends heading into #COP30.

www.forbes.com/sites/felici...

COP30 agendas are live.

Sessional period is 10–21 Nov in Belém, with a Leaders Summit on 6–7 Nov and pre-sessional meetings 3–9 Nov.

Explore agendas and documents: unfccc.int/cop30

Food systems, livelihoods, and development outcomes are linked.

New UNDP projections show how climate-driven crop losses ripple across education, health and income.

Data-driven adaptation must start now.

www.undp.org/press-releas...

World leaders adopt Doha declaration to boost efforts on social development Against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tension and widening social divides, global leaders at the Second World Summit for Social Development on Tuesday adopted the Doha Political Declaration, s...

The Doha Political Declaration commits to:
-Eradicating extreme poverty & expanding social protection floors
-Ensuring decent work & inclusive growth
-Reducing inequalities, especially for women, youth and persons with disabilities
-Strengthening statistical systems & data transparency for the SDGs

Our core focus is how the #SDGs are counted. Process decisions are made through the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators. Their 16th meeting is going on now through Friday with plenaries available on the UN Stats YouTube page.

unstats.un.org/sdgs/meeting...

The Second World Summit for Social Development opened today in Doha and leaders have already adopted a political declaration pledging to build a fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable future for all people.

press.un.org/en/2025/soc4...

New today from UNDP: with targeted action, 411 million people could move from poverty to basic security by 2030. A useful frame for climate-development policy this month.

Report: www.undp.org/publications...

Bill Gates calls for climate fight to shift focus from curbing emissions to reducing human suffering Bill Gates thinks climate change is a serious problem and that scientific innovation will curb it. In a memo released Tuesday, Gates argues for a strategic pivot in the global climate fight.

Ahead of #COP30, Bill Gates argues for a welfare-first climate strategy—more adaptation and development. Will it result in redirecting resources to health and social supports or will it only decrease climate investments? Either way, it will shape the discourse in Belém.

apnews.com/article/4108...

As we draw near to the second Social Summit in Doha (4-6 Nov), UNDP’s new review highlights 10 years of work on inclusion, jobs, and protection systems—and why deeper financing is needed to sustain progress.

www.undp.org/publications...

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DESA Report Identifies Lessons From 80 Years of Sustainable Development The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has released a report that traces the evolution of sustainable development within the UN system over the course of eight decades. It highlights ...

UN DESA’s new review distills eight decades of learning—from early UN conferences to Agenda 2030—to inform what comes next.

A must-read for those preparing for the post-2030 agenda.

sdg.iisd.org/news/desa-re...

Is it possible to determine an internationally applicable optimal Sustainable Development Goal using a priority-based evaluation - Humanities and Social Sciences Communications Humanities and Social Sciences Communications - Is it possible to determine an internationally applicable optimal Sustainable Development Goal using a priority-based evaluation

Which of the 17 #SDGs has the most universal impact?

A new Nature study uses priority-based evaluation to test that question. The finding: no single goal fits all, but SDG16 (institutions) and SDG4 (education) dominate across contexts.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

EDPS unveils revised Guidance on Generative AI, strengthening data protection in a rapidly changing digital era The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) today published its revised and updated guidelines on the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and processing of personal data by EU institutio...

EU’s data-protection supervisor just updated its guidance on Generative AI for EU institutions.

It sharpens accountability, risk assessment, and controller duties—becoming the new compliance baseline for public-sector AI.

www.edps.europa.eu/press-public...

The OECD Statistics STI Outlook 2025 argues science systems must adapt to geopolitics and drive transformative change. Essential reading for #AIForGood and tech policy related to the #SDGs

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-science-technology-and-innovation-outlook-2025_5fe57b90-en.html

“Development is adaptation.”

Ahead of #COP30, Bill Gates argues the metric that matters most isn’t temperature—it’s human welfare.

Climate, health, and poverty must be solved together.

https://www.gatesnotes.com/home/home-page-topic/reader/three-tough-truths-about-climate

Today’s OECD STI Outlook 2025 says geopolitics is reshaping tech and science cooperation. What does that mean for AI standards and SDG delivery?

Full Report: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-science-technology-and-innovation-outlook-2025_5fe57b90-en.html

The UN Climate Conference (#COP30) begins in Belém on Nov 10.

Expect fierce debates on climate finance, methane cuts, and just transitions.

What we hope to see: a Global Stocktake follow-up, stronger science alignment, and unprecedented scrutiny of delivery--not just pledges.

Reports and Publications Check out the latest stories, interviews, videos, publications and insights from the AI for Good community. A digital media kit is available for partners, sponsors and media.

From “how to govern” to “how to measure” to “how to deploy”

The #AIforGood publications hub pulls together reports on standards, AI footprint, health, startups, digital agriculture and more!

https://aiforgood.itu.int/newsroom/publications-and-reports/

Launching tomorrow:

OECD Science Technology and Innovation Outlook Report

Find out which trends are shaping policy and development.

https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/media-advisories/2025/10/oecd-science-technology-and-innovation-outlook-2025.html

25 Impactful Funding Partnerships From Global Goals Week 2025 Private capital, philanthropy, governments, and innovators announce efforts to close critical aid gaps during UNGA80

The headlines fade fast, but the partnerships remain. Check out StartingUpGood's recent piece tracking the 25 most consequential funding collaborations from Global Goals Week 2025.

https://ow.ly/q5Is50Xhy1Y

#SDGFinance #ImpactInvesting

UN Report Calls for Responsible Financing, Investment in Energy Transition “The finance sector can play a critical role in promoting responsible mining, particularly in the context of the rising demand for energy transition minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements.” This is according to a new report published by the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Intern

The UN is calling for responsible financing and investment to drive the global energy transition—emphasizing equity, access, and transparency. Excellent explainer by International Institute for Sustainable Development.

https://ow.ly/aBeS50XhwpZ

Over €140 million awarded under EIC Pathfinder 2025 to turn visionary science into breakthrough innovation 44 new EIC Pathfinder projects set to receive over €140 million in EU funding.

The EU’s EIC Pathfinder has awarded €140 M to 53 research teams pursuing visionary science for breakthrough innovation. Early-stage ideas today, potential SDG solutions tomorrow.
https://ow.ly/S0TZ50Xhy9n

Bezos Earth Fund Announces $30 Million in AI Grand Challenge Awards

The Bezos Earth Fund is awarding $30 M to 15 teams using AI for climate & nature protection. How can we ensure these projects drive measurable SDG 13 and SDG 15 impact?

https://ow.ly/fa3r50XhwcG

#SDGs #AIforGood #ClimateAction

How ready are countries for AI-driven innovation?

The forthcoming #OECD #STIOutlook2025 Report will chart how nations are governing AI, R&D investments, open science, and digital transformation.

https://ow.ly/FKNc50Xh6CV

State of Climate Action 2025 The State of Climate Action 2025 provides the most comprehensive roadmap yet for closing the global gap in climate action to help keep the Paris Agreement goal within reach, as well as grades collective efforts to combat the climate crisis across key sectors.

Only one of 42 key climate indicators is on track.

The new State of Climate Action 2025 from Systems Change Lab shows where progress is stalling — and what must shift before COP30.

https://systemschangelab.org/state-climate-action-2025

Groundbreaking report reveals powerful link between poverty and the climate crisis - United Nations Sustainable Development Nearly 80 per cent of the world’s poor – 887 million people – live in regions that are exposed to extreme heat, flooding and other climate hazards, highlighting the urgent need for global action to address the issue.  Read Full Story on UN News

UN spotlight: ~80% of the world’s poor live in climate-vulnerable areas. Integrating SDG1 + SDG13 is not optional—it’s reality.
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2025/10/groundbreaking-report-reveals-powerful-link-between-poverty-and-the-climate-crisis/