The crises facing the world are interconnected; climate change, inequality, biodiversity loss and financial instability are closely intertwined and require coordinated action. Over 80% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are linked to climate action; yet fragmentation in approaches to tackling them have hampered progress.

The 2015 adoption of both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change established a foundation for coherent implementation of climate action and sustainable development objectives. The many interlinkages between these suggest that integrated and synergistic implementation of both would lead to many benefits. 

In recognition of this, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat jointly organized a global conference on strengthening synergies between the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement in Copenhagen, Denmark, in April 2019. It sought to analyze gaps and challenges, and provide recommendations for strengthening synergies, increasing ambition, and advancing implementation action.

After a successful first event, UN DESA and the UNFCCC made the conference a regular occurrence. Speakers at these events include high-level representation from UN bodies and government, as well as key stakeholders such as youth and from academia. The programmes include interactive panel discussions, roundtable discussions, and thematic sessions focused on climate change and its impact on other areas linked to the SDGs.

The Sixth Global Climate and SDG Synergies Conference convened under the theme: Unleashing Synergies Towards an Equitable, Climate-Resilient, and Sustainable Future. Key themes and focus areas included:

• Integrated Policy Approaches – Aligning climate action with national development strategies
• Finance and Investment – Mobilizing resources to bridge climate and SDG funding gaps
• Innovation & Technology – Leveraging science and technology for sustainable solutions
• Country-Led Strategies – Showcasing case studies and best practices for synergistic action
• Multistakeholder Partnerships – Strengthening collaboration among governments, private sector, civil society, and international organizations
• Global Milestones – Informing key discussions ahead of COP30, the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the Fourth International Financing for Development Conference

The Conference convened from 27-28 May 2025, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Mika Schröder, Ph.D.; and Hillary Rosentreter. The Digital Editor was Mike Muzurakis. The Editor was Leila Mead.

Funding for ENB coverage of the 6th Global Climate and SDG Synergies Conference was provided by UN DESA.