Jakarta Becomes Global Action Hub as GSDC 2026 Opens to Accelerate SDGs

As a dynamic metropolitan city, Jakarta has officially become a global centre of attention with the opening of the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026 on Tuesday (23/6). The event brings together thousands of global leaders in the largest simultaneous forum designed to produce urgent solutions for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The congress, held at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), features a strategic alliance involving 5,000 leaders from four essential sectors: academia, government, industry, and civil society. Unlike typical climate forums, GSDC 2026 shifts the focus from mere declarations to concrete, cross-sector action plans that can be immediately implemented on a global scale. One of the most crucial agendas is the official launch of the Sustainability Impact Network. This network is the world’s largest university membership focused on the SDGs, uniting more than 1,600 institutions from 116 countries. The initiative aims to provide a data-driven roadmap to transform dialogue into measurable impact. Phil Baty, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Times Higher Education, stressed the importance of the location in Southeast Asia. ‘True sustainability cannot be achieved by one sector alone, nor can it be dictated solely by the Global North. By bringing this congress to Jakarta, we are bridging the gap between strategic plans and real-world implementation,’ he said. The presence of national and international figures reinforced the strategic direction of the congress. Indonesia’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, along with Deputy Minister Stella Christie, affirmed the nation’s commitment to aligning regional growth with the global agenda. Diplomats and ministers from the Asia-Pacific region, including Myanmar, Australia, and the United Kingdom, were also in attendance. The finance and education sectors were highlighted by Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah, Founder of Sunway Group, who underscored the importance of institutional transformation in achieving sustainability targets in Southeast Asia. The congress also features a series of high-level sub-conferences aimed at bridging economic strategy with field practice. Notably, the event includes the One Health and Well-being Zone 2026, organised by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). This zone emphasises that the mental and physical health of leaders is a prerequisite for achieving the SDGs. Professor Alexander Ping-Kong Wai, President of HKBU, stated that personal well-being is not a secondary issue. ‘We want to equip global leaders with the physical and mental stamina needed to turn data insights into lasting, sustainable impact,’ he concluded. With robust cross-sector integration, GSDC 2026 in Jakarta is expected to become a pivotal turning point in accelerating the Global 2030 Agenda, ensuring that every solution generated carries the political, academic, and economic weight the world currently needs.