At a time when multilateralism is under pressure and the global community faces overlapping crises from climate disasters to biodiversity loss, geopolitical tension and misinformation, science continues to emerge as a reminder of the urgent need for collective action in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

This became clear at a global Science Day held on 15 July at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the third edition of a shared initiative held on the sidelines of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development, or HLPF 2025.

It was convened by the International Science Council, the Stockholm Environment Institute, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Held under the theme “Unlocking Tomorrow’s Solutions Today”, the event served as both “a problem-solving platform and a horizon-scanning forum”, bringing together scientific communities, UN agencies, policymakers, Indigenous leaders, and civil society in a globally inclusive dialogue.

Stronger science-policy coordination needed

Amid growing concern that progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is lagging – particularly on implementation – speakers called for stronger science-policy coordination and a paradigm shift in how science is funded, governed and embedded into decision-making processes.

The event was structured around three critical objectives: accelerating SDG implementation through transdisciplinary science; confronting the gaps in implementation, including financial and political investments in science; and exploring science’s role in shaping the post-2030 development agenda.

“As the international community approaches the final stretch of the 2030 Agenda, there is widespread recognition that progress across many of the SDGs remains alarmingly slow. This is especially true in areas such as financing, capacity and institutional coordination,” said UNDP’s Babatunde Adebayo during the opening remarks.

Adebayo made the presentation on behalf of George Gray Molina, head of inclusive growth and chief economist at the UNDP.

He noted that Science Day 2025 provided an opportunity to take stock of these challenges while highlighting how science that is transdisciplinary, inclusive, and attuned to local realities can help overcome them.

“While implementation of the current SDGs must remain a global priority, early thinking is beginning around the shape of a future sustainable development agenda.

“The 3rd Edition of the Science Day aims to explore how science is supporting SDG implementation today, where systemic gaps remain, and what kinds of science-policy collaboration will be needed to advance sustainable development in the years to come,” Adebayo stated.

Integrating science into institutions

Ambassador Carlos Fuller, permanent representative of Belize to the United Nations and a member of the Climate Security Expert Network, noted that 2025 was the midpoint of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development pegged between 2021 and 2030.

“At the heart of our ocean ambition lies a simple truth. Science and knowledge must lead the way. The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement represents a transformative opportunity for science.

“It provides a comprehensive framework for marine scientific research, integrating both scientific understanding and traditional knowledge.

It seeks to enhance international cooperation, improve our understanding of marine biodiversity, and ensure the equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources and digital sequence information,” he said.

The BBNJ is a legally binding instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Fuller added that by design, the BBNJ agreement has the potential to reshape ocean governance, ensuring it is informed, inclusive and equitable.

“Crucially, it enshrines capacity building and technology transfer, particularly for developing countries, and establishes a scientific and technical body to guide decision-making with the best available science,” he noted.

James Waddell, a science officer at the International Science Council, a global NGO that brings together the natural and the social sciences, representing over 250 international scientific bodies, further highlighted the importance of implementing and integrating science into institutions.

“Science, when it’s grounded in local realities and when it’s structured for action, can really help shape the future. We are not lacking science or knowledge; we are lacking the means to implement it where it matters most,” he said.

Re-balancing knowledge systems

Case studies presented during the event reflected the fundamental role of science in driving sustainable development, bridging knowledge systems, and navigating increasingly complex environments.

Dr Mary Blair, associate director of the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, presented a case led by the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry, in which Sami Indigenous herders used both satellite data and traditional knowledge to monitor pasture degradation.

She called for new ethical protocols for research in Indigenous territories, including binding agreements and co-developed governance structures.

“We flipped the relationship between Western science and Indigenous knowledge, putting Indigenous needs and voices at the forefront,” she stated.

“This case study showcases indigenous-led models of scientific research. We emphasise the importance of halting land degradation to enhance the resilience of mobile pastoralist systems, and that includes addressing issues such as land fragmentation and encroachment while monitoring the cumulative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services,” she said.

In Asia, several interventions emphasised the importance of scaling scientific capacity in the Global South, not just for innovation, but for participation in global governance and standard-setting around science, technology, and sustainability.

Representatives from the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) discussed examples of novel data tools and digital platforms that have enhanced evidence of use in national and regional SDG implementation efforts.

Science-policy integration is crucial

A case from Germany’s national dialogue between scientific advisory councils to inform the 2025 Voluntary National Review, emphasised how science-policy interfaces are being used to inform national reporting.

Marianne Beisheim, senior researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, discussed the work of a biannual science advisory dialogue involving over 20 scientific councils, which was designed to foster coherence across ministries and align with SDG targets.

Although this has helped during moments of high political attention, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Bisheim underscored the importance of integrating science with policy.

“Coherence at the advisory level can provide a solid foundation, but it is no guarantee for policy coherence. Politics matters,” she stated.

Dr Pamela McElwee, a professor in the department of Human Ecology at the State University of New Jersey, gave a presentation of the IPBES Nexus Assessment report, which illustrates how biodiversity, climate, food systems and health are interlinked.

“Our crises are connected, but our solutions are not. We already have over 70 actionable, integrated responses, and many are low-cost and scalable,” she said.

The assessment is groundbreaking for its inclusion of early-career researchers and Indigenous knowledge systems and its emphasis on systemic thinking, not siloed disciplines.

Grounding science in context and community

From the African continent, leaders emphasised that scientific advancement must be locally relevant and forward-looking.

Dr Lamin Baba Diba, a representative of The Gambia, underscored the importance of embedding science into national development planning, especially in climate-vulnerable countries. He highlighted how The Gambia is integrating scientific research with Indigenous and local knowledge systems to bolster community resilience.

“In The Gambia, for example, blending Indigenous knowledge with modern climate modelling has enhanced early warning systems, while mobile-based health surveillance has significantly improved disease monitoring in remote areas, particularly during pandemic recovery,” he explained.

Comprehensive training programmes were needed to equip educators, researchers and students with essential digital competencies. These included practical instructions in the use of digital tools, cyber security awareness, and online research methods, enabling all participants in the scientific ecosystem to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.

Said Diba: “Although there are promising examples of science-informed policies, these remain fragmented and uneven. Our institutions are under-resourced. Our scientists are underrepresented. These disparities are symptomatic of broader development challenges that must be addressed to translate ambition into meaningful action”.

A strong call also came from Ghana, where institutions are working to decolonise science policy by ensuring that research agendas are aligned with national priorities rather than externally driven frameworks. Ghanaian representatives pointed out the disconnect between donor funding cycles and long-term scientific development, calling for enduring investments in institutions and people.

A ‘triple science crisis’

During the broader discussions on science, academic experts warned of a ‘triple science crisis’ of undervaluation, underfunding and underuse of science in decision-making. The need to democratise knowledge production, rebuild trust with citizens, and support scientists from marginalised regions was described not just as moral imperatives but as essential for planetary survival.

Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences at UNESCO, Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, reminded participants that science is a global public good, and its benefits must be equitably shared.