New group of scientists announced to help advance science-driven acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals
New York, 19 September 2025 — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed a new group of independent scientists to draft the 2027 Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR). This will be the third in a series of quadrennial reports, following the 2019 and 2023 editions. It aims to strengthen the science-policy-society interface and serve as a robust, evidence-based tool to support policymakers in accelerating progress toward poverty eradication and sustainable development.
As mandated by UN Member States, this group and its report will inform the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In connection with the high-level events at the United Nations in September 2027, this group is expected to launch the 2027 GSDR, providing scientific guidance on the state of global sustainable development, addressing emerging challenges, and offering actionable recommendations for governments and other stakeholders.
Following an extensive consultation process, the Secretary-General has appointed a diverse group of scientists representing a wide range of disciplines, expertise, and geographic backgrounds. The group includes:
- Phoebe Koundouri (Greece) – Co-chair; Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business & University of Cambridge, President World Council ENREA; Chair SDSN Global Climate Hub; Director AE4RIA
- Adedoyin Adeleke (Nigeria) – Co-chair; Executive Director, Green Growth Africa Sustainability Network
- Marianne Beisheim (Germany) – Senior Researcher, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
- Vanesa Castan Broto (Spain) – Professor of Climate Urbanism, University of Sheffield
- Yensi Flores-Bueso (Honduras) – Postdoctoral Researcher, University College Cork
- Sarah Cook (United Kingdom) – Professor, University of Nottingham Ningbo China
- Hussam Hussein (Jordan) – Research Associate, University of Oxford
- Mmaki Jantjies (South Africa) – Group Executive, Innovation and Transformation, Telkom South Africa
- Sherif Kamel (Egypt) – Dean, Onsi Sawiris School of Business, American University in Cairo
- Milica V. Matijević (Serbia) – Senior Research Associate, Institute of Comparative Law
- Steven Ratuva (Fiji) – Director, Macmillan Brown Center for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury
- Fabio Veras Soares (Brazil) – Researcher, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Development
- Eliane Ubalijoro (Rwanda) – CEO, The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF); Director General, ICRAF
- Taidong Zhou (China) – Vice President, Center for International Knowledge on Development
The group will be supported by a UN task team comprising six organizations: the United Nations Secretariat led by UNDESA, UNESCO, UNEP, UNDP, UNCTAD, and the World Bank. This team will coordinate inputs from a broad network of stakeholders, including the UN system, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
Building on the legacy of previous reports, The Future is Now (2019) and Times of Crisis, Times of Change (2023), the 2027 GSDR will be accessible to a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, business leaders, civil society organizations, and the general public.
For more information: https://sdgs.un.org/gsdr2027
Media contacts:
Martina Donlon, UN Department of Global Communications
donlon@un.org
Helen Rosengren, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
rosengrenh@un.org
Shivani Nayyar, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
shivani.nayyar@un.org