After three SDG Dialogue Forums at the federal level and a Regional SDG Dialogue Forum in Carinthia in the previous years, the Austrian Federal Government, SDG Watch Austria and the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens convened another SDG Dialogue Forum on 23 October 2025 in Vienna. This year’s Forum acted as a catalyst for strengthened joint implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and provided a platform to initiate discussions on priorities for the Post-2030 Agenda.
The event, held at the Marble Hall of the federal ministries’ building at Stubenring in Vienna and attended by around 120 participants, was moderated by BKMC CEO Monika Fröhler.
Dr. Peter Huber and Dr. Jürgen Schneider, Heads of Section at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA) and the Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK), respectively, emphasized the importance of multilateralism and the value of the 2030 Agenda as a compass for a sustainable future in their opening remarks.
The keynote “2030 in Sight: An Independent Perspective on the Post-2030 Agenda in a Changing World” was delivered by Andrew Sherriff, Associate Director for Institutional Relations and Partnerships at the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM). He outlined three scenarios for a Post-2030 Agenda in a rapidly changing world:
- Continuation of the 2030 Agenda until 2040 or 2050 with potentially minimal adjustments
- No agreement on a global framework, resulting in a “patchwork” of regional and thematic sustainable development programs
- A new, more ambitious agreement that addresses thematic, financial, and implementation gaps.
Building on this international perspective, the subsequent interview-style panel discussions focused on the implementation of the SDGs in Austria by 2030 and beyond.
In the first interview round on the implementation of the SDGs by 2030, Sabine Schneeberger, Sustainability Coordinator of Styria, and Anja Appel from SDG Watch Austria discussed the cooperation between civil society and the government as well as concrete tools for anchoring the SDGs. These include making more use of the Impact Assessment WFA (Wirkungsfolgenabschätzung), an instrument intended to help assess the consequences of new laws at an early stage as well as of the Optionenbericht (Options Report) by UniNEtZ, which includes 150 options for implementing the UN 2030 Agenda, and increasing the involvement of the Austrian parliament.
Katharina Reisenbauer, Austrian UN Youth Delegate, and Christina Hainzl, University for Continuing Education Krems, provided valuable input on youth engagement, transdisciplinary approaches, and the role of culture and emotions in conveying sustainable development.
In the second half of the SDG Dialogue Forum 2025, various aspects of the implementation of the SDGs in and through Austria were explored in a World Café format. The key messages from the lively discussions included:
Table 1: Development Financing Post-Seville – Setting the Course for Global Development Financing by 2030 and Beyond
Led by the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA) and Global Responsibility – Austrian Platform for Development and Humanitarian Aid
Key messages:
- Development financing is not just about funding but also about meaningful rules and processes.
- Engagement of the private sector and public development cooperation must be strengthened.
Table 2: Youth Participation – Youth at the Center of Transformation
Led by Naturefriends International and Beteiligung.st – Die Fachstelle für Kinder-, Jugend- und BürgerInnenbeteiligung
Key messages:
- Youth participation requires appropriate, legally anchored structures and sufficient resources.
- Commitment, transparent information, and early involvement form the basis for responsible participation processes.
Table 3: SDG Localization – Strengthening Cooperation between Federal, State, City, and Municipal Levels
Led by the Federal Chancellery (BKA) and the State of Lower Austria
Key messages:
- The visibility of activities at regional and local levels should be strengthened, including through public relations.
- Existing alliances and structures could be better networked and leveraged to enhance inter-level cooperation.
Table 4: OECD-Guidelines – Cornerstone for Resilience, Competitiveness, and Sustainability
Led by the Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy, and Tourism (BMWET) and SDG Watch Austria
Key messages:
- Communication on the economic dimension of sustainability should highlight best practices and economic benefits.
- In the long term, the OECD-Guidelines and similar instruments should see a qualitative improvement in content and format
Table 5: Climate Check – Assessing the Climate Impact of Projects within the Results-Oriented Impact Assessment (WFA) and Beyond
Led by the Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK)
Key messages:
- The climate check systematically presents both positive and negative climate impacts of federal projects.
- The Impact Assessment (WFA – Wirkungsfolgenabschätzung) and the climate check should be strengthened as mechanisms to ensure policy coherence and informed decision-making.
Table 6: Leaving No One Behind – Social Cohesion and Solidarity in Times of Multiple Crises
Led by the Federal Ministry for Labor, Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection (BMASGPK) & the Austrian Anti Poverty Network
Key messages:
- Social cohesion, solidarity, participation, active inclusion of people in vulnerable situations, and health equity must be prioritized up to 2030 and in a Post-2030 Agenda.
- In times of multiple crises and global challenges, international solidarity, cooperation, and intensified public engagement must remain in focus.
Table 7: Culture & SDGs – A Compass for Sustainability
Led by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media, and Sport (BMWKMS) & the Austrian UNESCO Commission
Key messages:
- Culture is a cross-cutting theme affecting all SDGs and significantly contributes to their achievement, especially regarding employment, environmental protection, addressing (social) inequalities, building resilient and inclusive societies, and fostering peace and stability.
- In the Post-2030 Agenda, culture should be established as a standalone goal to make its contribution to sustainable development more visible.
BKMC CEO Monika Fröhler as well as Anna Muner-Bretter from BKA and Wolfgang Banyai from BMEIA, on behalf of the Interministerial Working Group on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda, expressed their gratitude for the strong attendance and active participation of the diverse stakeholders at this year’s SDG Dialogue Forum. The results of the discussions, including those from the World Café, will be compiled in a report and disseminated further.
To see all pictures:
Copyright: Martin Krachler
