Jakarta, Indonesia
Jakarta, the world’s largest megacity, today welcomed thousands of global leaders for the opening of the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026. This landmark summit marks what is believed to be the largest simultaneous gathering of all four essential sectors under one roof, specifically convened to deliver urgent solutions for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Staged in the heart of one of the world's most dynamic environments at the cutting edge of innovation in sustainable development, the congress serves as the definitive hub for collective action. It brings together an unprecedented alliance of 5,000 leaders from academia, government, industry and civil society. Moving decisively past standard climate declarations, this year’s event shifts the focus entirely to actionable, cross-sector blueprints designed to fast-track real global change.
A core milestone of the congress is the official announcement of this year's highly anticipated Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings. Crucially, the summit also marks the official launch of the THE Sustainability Impact Network. Standing as the world's largest university membership network dedicated to the SDGs, this initiative unites more than 1,600 universities across 116 countries to provide the critical, data-driven roadmaps necessary to transform urgent dialogue into measurable impact.
Phil Baty, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Times Higher Education, said:
"There is a profound significance to announcing this year's THE Sustainability Impact Ratings and officially launching the THE Sustainability Impact Network right here in Jakarta. True sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation by any single sector, and it cannot be dictated solely from the Global North. By bringing this congress to Southeast Asia, a region at the absolute frontline of both climate vulnerability and sustainable innovation, we are bridging the gap between strategic intent and real-world implementation.
With over 1,600 universities across 116 countries joining this new network, we have created the world’s largest university network dedicated to the UN SDGs. Introducing the network under one roof alongside policymakers, global CEOs and NGOs in the world's largest megacity transforms our shared data into an active blueprint for change. It ensures the solutions forged here carry the political, academic and economic weight needed to shape the global 2030 Agenda."
By gathering all four sectors under one roof, the congress actively mirrors this comprehensive framework, connecting academic research directly with government policy, business innovation and civil society action to scale immediate solutions.
The strategic direction of this year’s event is reinforced by high-level national and regional leadership. Keynote addresses from Brian Yuliarto, Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology; Stella Christie, Vice-Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology; and Leonardo Adypurnama Teguh Sambodo, Deputy for Food, Natural Resources and Environment at the Ministry for National Development Planning, will highlight Indonesia’s commitment to aligning regional growth models with global sustainability, climate and education objectives.
The congress will also welcome distinguished leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region, including Chaw Chaw Sein, Union Minister for Education of Myanmar; Rob Brazier, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia; Catherine Gallagher, Head of Southeast Asia at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission; and Dominic Jermey, UK Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Their participation reflects the importance of international collaboration in advancing sustainable development and fostering shared prosperity across the region.
Joining them on the main stage to champion the vital intersection of education and regional funding is major Southeast Asian philanthropist and Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group, Sir Jeffrey Cheah, whose landmark commitments to quality education and institutional transformation continue to contribute significantly to the region’s sustainable development goals.
To drive this cross-sector integration, the 2026 congress anchors its agenda around a series of high-level sub-summits designed to bridge economic strategy with practical execution. Central to this approach is the inaugural Asia-Pacific Sustainable Business Summit alongside the Sustainable Trade and Economic Development Summit, which together bring corporate leaders and policy experts into direct alignment with global sustainability goals.
Recognising that financial deployment and human capability are the twin engines of sustainable progress, the event also features the Unlocking Capital for Sustainability platform, delivered in partnership with Eco-Business, to mobilise green financing across developing economies. At the same time, the Sustainability Skills Summit addresses the global talent transition, mapping the educational and vocational pathways required to build a workforce capable of operating a net-zero economy.
Alongside these core tracks, the congress features the One Health and Well-being Zone. Recognising that personal well-being and human resilience are critical structural prerequisites to achieving the UN SDGs, the zone establishes health as a foundational component of global development strategy, providing attendees with a dedicated environment designed to bridge cutting-edge health research with practical wellness solutions amongst all the high-level action of the summit. Hosted by Hong Kong Baptist University, the unique space features traditional Chinese massages and an active programme of tai chi, baduanjin, and mindfulness karate, alongside a daily outdoor ‘Walk to Live Well’ campaign led by senior university representatives. The activation forms the centre of the ‘Mindful Moments Campaign’ at Congress, marking HKBU's landmark 70th anniversary.
Professor Alexander Ping-Kong Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University, said:
“True global sustainability is highly dependent on the health, wellness, and structural resilience of the individuals driving change on the ground. As we commemorate HKBU’s 70th anniversary, we are proud to launch the One Health and Well-being Zone to demonstrate that personal well-being is not a secondary consideration, but a critical prerequisite to achieving the UN SDGs. By embedding transdisciplinary health research and practical wellness strategies directly into the summit ecosystem, we aim to equip global leaders with the physical and mental stamina required to translate data-driven insights into sustained, real-world impact.”
Key highlights of the 2026 congress include:
- The four-sector alliance: Dedicated interactive programmes where policymakers, business leaders, education leaders and civil society advocates collaborate on shared targets through targeted summits, including the Asia-Pacific Sustainable Business Summit, Sustainable Trade and Economic Development Summit, Unlocking Capital for Sustainability and Sustainability Skills Summit.
- The world's largest SDG network: Showcasing the collective power of the newly formed THE Sustainability Impact Network, uniting over 1,600 forward-thinking institutions.
- THE Sustainability Impact Ratings announcement: The exclusive reveal of global data measuring how higher education institutions are actively delivering on all 17 UN SDGs.
- Strategic regional leadership: High-level keynotes and panel discussions highlighting diverse global success stories and driving sustainable development across ecosystems worldwide.
The event runs from 22 to 25 June 2026 at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in Jakarta, hosted in partnership with the Indonesian Ministry for Higher Education and Technology, Indonesia Ministry of National Development Planning and Sinar Mas Land. For more information, visit www.gsdcongress.com/2026.
Notes to editors
About Times Higher Education and the Global Sustainable Development Congress:
Times Higher Education (THE) is the trusted global partner for higher education, providing data, insights and analysis to help universities and organisations deliver sustainable impact worldwide. They are the convenor and founding host of the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC). The GSDC is the premier global platform addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, designed to connect higher education with industry, government and civil society to drive systemic change.
Contact
For media enquiries or to arrange a press pass or interviews, please contact Carina McKeown-Johnson, PR and Media Manager for GSDC, at carina.mckeown-johnson@timeshighereducation.com.