Columbia University
2025 Gloabl Sustainability Summit
Apri 13rd, 2025
Columbia University
New York, NY
New York, April 13, 2025 — The 2025 Global Sustainability Summit, hosted by the Columbia University Global ESG Leadership Association (CGELA), convened at Columbia’s iconic Low Memorial Library, drawing over 500 participants from 30+ countries and regions. With the theme “Advancing Human Civilization, Connecting Our Future,” the summit brought together 70+ distinguished speakers spanning the United Nations, international development banks, green finance, Silicon Valley climate-tech, and world-renowned universities.
From early morning, Low Library was filled with vibrant energy. Attendees included students and scholars from Columbia, Harvard, Tsinghua, NYU, and professionals from the World Bank, Blackstone, BNP Paribas, Wellington Management, and others—united by a shared commitment to shaping a sustainable future.
To address the multidimensional challenges of sustainability, the summit featured six thematic forums, exploring topics from hard tech breakthroughs to green finance and youth content creation:
Sustainable Development Forum: Discussed green investment, AI & blockchain, and cross-sector financial ecosystems.
Hard Tech Forum: Highlighted the role of AI, robotics, and deep tech in solving global challenges.
Finance & Investment Forum: Covered early-stage investment in emerging tech and global macroeconomic trends.
New Energy & Life Sciences Forum: Focused on clean energy, gene therapy, mRNA vaccines, and digital health innovation.
Society & Culture Forum: Explored the intersection of sustainability with youth art, philanthropy, and global governance.
Youth Creators Forum: Showcased how young influencers are shaping public discourse around key global issues.
The event’s success was made possible by the dedication of speakers, volunteers, university chapters from Columbia, NYU, Penn, and all partner institutions. Their joint efforts ensured a thoughtful, inclusive platform that sparked new conversations and collaborations.
Although the summit concluded, CGELA’s mission continues. The organization will further expand its global youth sustainability ecosystem and strengthen the integration of global responsibility with local action.
The future is promising. The mission continues.
Public Transportation:
1 train to 116th Street Station
M5 and M4 Buses
Summit Brief Introduction
Global Sustainability Summit is an annual high-level gathering hosted by the Columbia Global ESG Leadership Association (CGELA). It aims to establish a cross-disciplinary and cross-sector exchange platform, inspire innovative ideas, and collectively explore the forefront challenges and opportunities in global sustainable development.
On April 13, 2025, this prestigious event in the global sustainable development field—the Columbia University Global Sustainable Development Leadership Summit & the “30 Under 30 & 25 Under 25” Global Sustainable Development Youth Leaders Awards Ceremony—will be held in the Low Memorial Library Rotunda at Columbia University. This grand summit will bring together top business leaders, esteemed academics, industry experts, and young pioneers from around the world to engage in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge topics such as artificial intelligence, space exploration, advanced manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals, new energy, cultural arts, and international cooperation, contributing both intellectual power and practical wisdom to the advancement of global sustainable development.
In the evening, the Low Memorial Library Rotunda will host an exclusive networking banquet and cocktail reception. Renowned guests will gather, engaging in thought-provoking conversations over elegant music and fine wines, envisioning a sustainable future. This event is not just an exchange of ideas but also a crucial opportunity for global collaboration. Every participant will have the chance to spark inspiration through discussions and collaborations, collectively shaping a new chapter in sustainable development.
We sincerely invite visionary leaders from across industries to witness and partake in this remarkable convergence of innovation and sustainability. Whether you are a pioneering industry leader or a young changemaker, we welcome your participation in this distinguished gathering, where you will engage with world-class scholars, business executives, technologists, and policymakers to explore the boundless possibilities of a sustainable future.
2024 Summit Overview
On April 7, 2024, the Columbia Global ESG Leadership Association (CGELA) successfully hosted the inaugural Summit of Global Sustainability Visionaries at one of Columbia University’s most grand and historic venues—the Low Memorial Library Rotunda. That evening, the CGELA Networking Banquet took place in the same hall, marking a perfect conclusion to this remarkable sustainability summit.
The event brought together over 23 distinguished speakers from various sectors of sustainable development, 18 dedicated planning team members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and 30 volunteers and project coordinators who provided full support. In total, the summit and networking banquet attracted more than 240 attendees, fostering invaluable discussions and collaborations in the field of global sustainability
