Context: Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, inaugurated the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2025 in New Delhi on Wednesday. 

Background: –

• Union Minister stressed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India has taken transformative steps with initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE).

Key points

• The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) is an annual event organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), serving as a global platform to discuss and advance sustainable development and climate solutions. 
• Established in 2001 as the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS), it was rebranded to WSDS to reflect its broader international scope.
• WSDS 2025 Theme: ‘Partnerships for Accelerating Sustainable Development and Climate Solutions’
• This 24th edition emphasizes the critical role of collaborations among governments, businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders in driving meaningful progress toward sustainability goals.

Key Components of WSDS:

• Sustainable Development Leadership Award (SDLA): Since 2005, this award has honored global leaders for their contributions to sustainable development.
• Ministerial and High-Level Sessions: Panels featuring policymakers, business leaders, and academics discussing pressing environmental issues.
• Thematic Tracks: Focused discussions on specific sustainability challenges, engaging domain experts to propose actionable solutions.
• CEO Forum: A platform for industry leaders to brainstorm sustainable business practices.
• Youth Connect: Initiatives to engage young students in sustainability dialogues, fostering awareness and involvement.

Source: DD News