2025 Global Citizen Festival: A Campaign for Sustainable Development

Event Overview and Objectives

The 2025 Global Citizen Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025, on the Great Lawn of Central Park, New York City. The event will feature musical performances and advocacy to advance global development initiatives. The festival serves as the launch of a global campaign focused on achieving specific targets that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Headliners: The Weeknd and Shakira
• Performers: Tyla, Ayra Starr, and Mariah the Scientist
• Host: Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman

Campaign Focus on Key Sustainable Development Goals

The 2025 campaign is structured around three primary objectives, each directly contributing to critical SDGs:

1. Energy Access: Provide clean energy access for one million people across Africa, supporting SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
2. Rainforest Protection: Mobilize $200 million to protect 30 million hectares of the Amazon Rainforest, advancing SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
3. Education Access: Secure access to education for 30,000 children worldwide, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education).

Participation in the festival is facilitated through an action-based model, where individuals can earn complimentary tickets by taking action on these issues via the Global Citizen platform.

Detailed Campaign Initiatives and SDG Alignment

Initiative 1: Advancing SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) in Africa

The “Scaling Up Renewables in Africa” campaign aims to address energy deficits and promote sustainable economic growth. This initiative directly supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

• Funding Goal: Mobilize $1.5 billion to support clean energy infrastructure projects.
• Workforce Development: Train 50,000 youth in solar installation, grid maintenance, and other energy-related skills.
• Projected Impact: Investments are anticipated to provide clean energy to at least one million people, generate employment, and reduce carbon emissions. Key partners include the European Commission and the governments of Denmark, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Initiative 2: Supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land)

In partnership with Re:wild, the “Protecting the Amazon” campaign seeks to mitigate the climate crisis by preserving a vital global ecosystem. This goal is central to achieving SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• Funding Goal: Raise $200 million to support Indigenous- and community-led conservation projects.
• Conservation Target: Protect 30 million hectares of rainforest, equivalent to the area of Italy, and preserve over 20 billion standing trees.
• Call to Action: Urging governments, corporations, and philanthropists to fund Indigenous groups, support sustainable eco-businesses, and strengthen conservation strategies.

Initiative 3: Promoting SDG 4 (Quality Education) Globally

To address the global education crisis, where 250 million children lack basic literacy, this initiative focuses on providing educational opportunities. It is a direct effort to advance SDG 4 (Quality Education).

• Funding Mechanism: The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund aims to raise $100 million for education programs in over 150 countries.
• Festival Target: Raise $30 million, sufficient to provide quality education for 30,000 children.
• Support Streams: Funding is generated through ticket donations from major events, round-up donations, matching gifts, and public contributions. The funds support community-based programs, healthcare, school nutrition, and safe learning environments.

Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement (SDG 17)

The festival’s success relies on multi-sector collaboration, embodying SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Corporate and Production Partners

• Presenting Partner: Cisco
• Major Partners: Authentic Brands Group, Bridgewater Associates, Delta Air Lines, PayPal and Venmo, and P&G.
• Production and Media Partners: Live Nation, iHeartMedia, Done+Dusted, and Diversified Production Services.

Local and Global Volunteer Mobilization

Global Citizen is collaborating with New York City-based nonprofit organizations, including Bowery Mission, Covenant House, Breaking Ground, and Citymeals on Wheels. In a global effort, a partnership with Goodera aims to mobilize 40,000 volunteers to provide career development mentorship to young people worldwide.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article explicitly states a campaign goal to “Provide Access to Education for 30,000 Children Around the World” by raising $30 million through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. This directly aligns with ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  A primary campaign goal is to “Provide Energy Access for 1 Million People Across Africa.” The article details the “Scaling Up Renewables in Africa” campaign, which focuses on investing in clean and affordable energy solutions, training youth in solar installation, and reducing carbon emissions.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The campaign’s focus on protecting the Amazon rainforest is explicitly linked to climate action. The article states, “Protecting the Amazon is essential to tackling the climate crisis,” connecting conservation efforts directly to global climate goals.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The goal to “Mobilize $200 Million to Protect 30 Million Hectares of the Amazon Rainforest” is a direct effort to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, specifically forests, which is the core of SDG 15.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The overarching mission of the Global Citizen movement, as stated by its CEO, is “Ending extreme poverty.” The specific goals related to energy, education, and conservation are presented as key strategies to achieve this fundamental objective.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights the collaborative nature of the campaign, which involves partnerships with governments (European Commission, Denmark, Australia, UK, Germany, Norway, France), corporations (Cisco, Delta Air Lines, P&G), and civil society organizations (Re:wild, Bowery Mission, etc.). This multi-stakeholder approach is central to SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  • Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education. The campaign’s goal to provide “quality education for 30,000 children” directly supports this target.
  • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. The article mentions that funds will support “essential services like healthcare, school nutrition, and safe classrooms.”

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  • Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services. The campaign goal to “Provide Energy Access for 1 Million People Across Africa” is a direct contribution to this target.
  • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The “Scaling Up Renewables in Africa” campaign, focusing on solar installation and clean energy projects, aligns with this target.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally. The goal to “Protect 30 Million Hectares of the Amazon Rainforest” through preservation, restoration, and sustainable management directly addresses this target.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article details numerous partnerships with governments, private sector companies like Cisco and P&G, and non-profit organizations, which exemplifies this target in action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several specific, quantifiable indicators to measure the success of its campaign goals.

• For SDG 4: Quality Education

  • Financial Indicator: $30 million to be raised for education programs.
  • Impact Indicator: 30,000 children to be provided with access to quality education.

• For SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  • Impact Indicator: 1 million people across Africa to be provided with energy access.
  • Financial Indicator: Mobilization of over $500 million for at least two major infrastructure projects.
  • Capacity Building Indicator: 50,000 youth to be trained in solar installation, grid maintenance, and other energy-related skills.

• For SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Financial Indicator: $200 million to be mobilized to support conservation projects.
  • Geographic Indicator: 30 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest to be protected.

• For SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Volunteerism Indicator: Mobilization of 40,000 volunteers globally for career development mentorship.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: globalcitizen.org