A Member of the UN SDSN
On June 4, 2025, GELA joined the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network as one of its global member institutions.
Officially part of a global knowledge network.
SDSN's Networks Strategy Council approved GELA's membership. The decision was confirmed in an acceptance letter signed by SDSN Vice President María Cortés Puch.
Membership connects GELA's youth-led work with a worldwide network of universities, research institutions and think tanks working on the 2030 Agenda.
Advancing the 2030 Agenda under the UN system.
Launched in 2012 by then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, SDSN supports the UN and national governments in carrying out the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Hosted by the Earth Institute at Columbia University and chaired by economist Jeffrey D. Sachs, SDSN is a key advisory body to the UN Secretary-General's Office.
Its reports are widely used benchmarks of sustainable development progress across nations.
Empowering youth to drive real-world action.
GELA is a New York–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit working with UN bodies, international organizations, universities, think tanks and the private sector. It runs intercollegiate chapters at Columbia, NYU, Penn and other universities.
Ignite youth potential, connect global resources, and accelerate sustainable solutions.
Columbia Global Sustainability Summit
Global Youth Sustainable Development Top 30
ESG & Green Finance Bootcamps
Public Health Missions in Africa
Partner with GELA on the SDGs.
Universities, institutions and companies can join us on research, programs and youth initiatives.
SDSN Network
On June 4th, 2025, the Global ESG Leadership Association (GELA) officially announced its partnership with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
This decision was approved by the Networks Strategy Council of SDSN and formalized in an official acceptance letter signed by SDSN Vice President María Cortés Puch, confirming GELA as one of its global member institutions.
About SDSN: A Global Knowledge Network for Advancing Sustainable Development under the UN System
Launched in 2012 by then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) supports the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030) by the UN and national governments. SDSN focuses on tackling critical global challenges including climate change, energy transition, education, poverty reduction, public health, and sustainable cities.
Hosted by the Earth Institute at Columbia University and chaired by renowned economist Jeffrey D. Sachs, SDSN has grown into a global network spanning over 140 countries and more than 700 universities, research institutions, and think tanks.
In addition to serving as a key advisory body to the UN Secretary-General's Office, SDSN produces influential publications such as the Sustainable Development Report and the World Happiness Report, which serve as important benchmarks for evaluating sustainable development progress across nations.
About GELA: An International Organization Empowering Youth to Drive Real-World Sustainable Action
The Global ESG Leadership Association (GELA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York, USA. GELA is committed to advancing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and sustainable development goals by centering the power and potential of youth. With the mission to "ignite youth potential, connect global resources, and accelerate sustainable solutions," GELA collaborates extensively with UN bodies, international organizations, universities, think tanks, and the private sector to foster cross-sectoral partnerships and co-create impactful projects.
GELA currently operates multiple intercollegiate alliances, including chapters at Columbia University, New York University, and the University of Pennsylvania, among others. The organization has achieved notable progress in areas such as youth leadership development, sustainability project incubation, global collaborative research, and strategic communication. Signature initiatives include the Columbia Global Sustainability Summit, the Global Youth Sustainable Development Top 30, ESG & Green Finance Bootcamps, and public health missions in Africa.