Under the theme “Reboot the SDGs, reset our future”, the annual international forum at Yonsei University in Seoul, Republic of Korea, fostered innovation and collaboration to respond to global challenges humanity faces.
From 14th to 15th of March 2024, the Ban Ki-moon Centre co-hosted the 6th Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF) and welcomed 91 speakers from 18 countries worldwide.
Global leaders and experts from academia, the private sector, civil society, and global citizens, such as UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Cho Tae-yeol and Former President of Columbia and Nobel Peace Price Laureate Juan Manuel Santons convened to build partnerships towards accomplishing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
As a co-organizer, the Ban Ki-moon Centre was actively engaged on the ground with opening remarks by Co-chairs Ban Ki-moon and Dr. Heinz Fischer, and the overall conference was co-moderated by BKMC Communications Lead Katharina Choe.
The opening ceremony featured welcome remarks from Co-chairs Ban Ki-moon and Dr. Heinz Fischer, who stressed the importance of achieving the SDGs, as the world is past the halfway point to the 2030 deadline:
“GEEF will provide the opportunity for an inclusive and sustainable future by rebooting the SDGs. Every small action will lead to big changes.” – H.E. Ban Ki-moon
Heinz Fischer spoke about the state of the world and underlined “We have no other choice than to think carefully, to discuss in a balanced way, and to act steadfastly in the right direction. The SDGs are the most valuable instrument in this field.” – H.E. Dr. Heinz Fischer
Key sessions include “Global Peace Building,” chaired by Co-chair Ban Ki-moon; “SDGs Stocktaking – The Global Landscape, Local Applications, and Future Directions,” led by Kang Kyung-hwa, Distinguished Professor at the Institute for Global Engagement and Empowerment, Yonsei University and the 38th Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea; and “Mental Health and Population Crisis in Korean Society” by Jim Yong Kim, 12th President of the World Bank, and Peter Jongho Na, Professor at Yale University.
Throughout the forum, various measures and solutions on diverse themes like climate change, human rights, peacebuilding, care economy, artificial intelligence, and many more were proposed to respond to local and national challenges and global crises to strengthen the promotion of SDGs and the common prosperity of humankind.
We thank all speakers, partners, and participants for their engagement in the GEEF 2024!
Watch the recording of Day 1. Flick through our Flickr Album below.