HLPF 2025 Concludes with Stronger Commitment to Sustainable Development

24 July 2025 – United Nations Head Quarters, New York: The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2025 concluded with a strong call for urgent action to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and address mounting global challenges. With only five years left to achieve the 2030 Agenda, delegates emphasized that the upcoming Social Summit will be a critical moment to renew global commitments to social progress, equity, and inclusion.

HLPF 2025: Key Outcomes

During the two-week forum, Member States, civil society, youth, and UN agencies voiced deep concern over the slow pace of progress. The 2025 SDG Progress Report revealed that only 35% of SDG targets are on track, nearly half are moving too slowly, and 18% are regressing. Persistent inequalities, climate crises, conflicts, and post-pandemic vulnerabilities were cited as significant barriers.

The Ministerial Declaration, adopted after intensive negotiations, reaffirmed the core principles of the 2030 Agenda—including peace, human rights, gender equality, and the pledges to “leave no one behind” and “reach the furthest behind first”. It called for stronger multilateralism, innovative financing for development, and robust partnerships across governments, civil society, and the private sector.

Several countries presented their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), highlighting achievements in maternal health, digital inclusion, and gender equality, while acknowledging persistent challenges in poverty reduction, economic recovery, and climate resilience.

From HLPF 2025 to the Social Summit

Discussions at HLPF 2025 underscored the urgency of the upcoming Social Summit (Doha, 4–6 November 2025) as a platform to address the social dimension of sustainable development. Delegates stressed that achieving the SDGs will require both urgency and ambition, as well as a renewed focus on equity and resilience.

Key perspectives shared during HLPF included:

• UNICEF stressed investing in adolescent girls’ education, health, and rights, noting that empowering young women could yield up to a 10:1 return on investment in economic and social benefits.
• ILO called for anchoring social justice in global development strategies, urging countries to implement labour protections and universal social protection systems.
• ILO also stressed that social budgets are especially vulnerable during crises, highlighting the need for strong implementation to uphold decent work and social protections.
• ITU called for equity in digital access and future-facing development planning, emphasising how digital tools can advance education, health, food systems, and jobs.
• Civil society and youth groups demanded greater participation in policymaking, linking their aspirations directly to the themes of the Social Summit.
• The business sector represented by the Business and Industry Major Group committed to “inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation” using their tools, expertise, and scaling capacity to strengthen international policies and community partnerships.

The Compromiso de Sevilla, Pact for the Future, and the outcomes of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) were also highlighted as foundational commitments to guide discussions at the Summit.

UN80 and Revitalizing Multilateralism

This year’s HLPF also emphasized the need to revitalize multilateralism and strengthen ECOSOC as part of the UN80 Initiative. Delegates called for streamlined governance, digital inclusion, and stronger engagement with civil society to ensure that global institutions remain fit for purpose in addressing today’s complex challenges.

A Call to Action

As the Social Summit approaches, Member States and stakeholders are expected to bring concrete commitments, innovative financing mechanisms, and transformative partnerships to the table. The Summit will be a defining moment to place social progress back at the heart of global policymaking, bridging the gap between ambition and action.