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Strengthening the Science–Policy Interface for the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (GSDR 2027)

In October 2025, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, appointed a 15-member Independent Group of Scientists (IGS) to prepare the 2027 Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR). Marianne Beisheim is a member of the group.

Alongside the Secretary-General’s annual SDG progress report, which tracks global implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through data and indicators, the GSDR is the only other report officially mandated by UN Member States for the SDG Summit, held every four years during the UN General Assembly. The report aims to provide policymakers with a robust, evidence-based and science-driven resource to support accelerated progress on the SDGs by 2030 and beyond.

In this context, the GSDR-IGS serves as a key science-policy interface, linking scientific expertise with political decision-making. The project aims to support the IGS's work and strengthen this interface in order to enable more informed and effective decision-making on the future implementation of the SDGs.

The GSDR 2027 will provide an 'assessment of assessments', synthesizing and evaluating existing scientific knowledge and debates. Grounded in a comprehensive review of academic literature, the report will also incorporate relevant insights from other societal stakeholders through consultations and dialogue. The scientists involved will assess progress achieved and persistent implementation gaps in global sustainable development, identify the underlying causes, and provide recommendations to governments and other stakeholders on ways forward. The report will also highlight emerging and future challenges.

The IGS will draft the report throughout 2026 and present it to UN Member States in spring 2027. Accordingly, the project's main focus in 2026 will be on research and drafting. In 2027, the focus will shift toward disseminating the report’s key messages more broadly. The report’s core findings will be presented to UN Member States in New York in spring 2027 to inform negotiations on the Political Declaration for the SDG Summit in September. This process will be supplemented by informal dialogues and presentations at side events, expert meetings, and scientific conferences.

Duration: March 2026 – August 2027

Funding: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Project Lead