It is our pleasure to welcome to you to the 2024 Forum on Sustainable Development Goals: “Connecting Academic Research and Policy Solutions for SDG Localization”. This event will bring together leaders, scholars, and experts from around the world to explore the challenges and opportunities of localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in both global and local contexts.

Thanks to the collaboration of the University of Deusto, the UN Local2030 Coalition, and the support of the Basque Government, this forum aims to build bridges between scientific and social research and the design of public policies to reinforce the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We take pride in the participation of distinguished representatives from the United Nations, governments, and internationally renowned universities, who will share their knowledge, perspectives, and experiences to address some of the most urgent issues of our time.

Throughout the sessions, we will explore four key areas for achieving the SDGs, based on the six strategic transitions identified by the United Nations: Quality Education, Inequality and Social Protection, Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence, and Climate Action and the Transition of Energy and Food Systems. At a time when cooperation and interdisciplinary knowledge are more important than ever, this forum is designed as a space for dialogue, reflection, and the generation of solutions that are sensitive to the tension between local and global concerns.

We invite you to actively participate in the presentations and discussions and to take advantage of this unique opportunity to strengthen partnerships between the university, civil society, and public administrations in our shared mission to build a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.

We appreciate your interest and commitment, and we hope that this forum will be an enriching experience for all.

Welcome to the University of Deusto.