Many of you reading this message have been instrumental in helping inform and articulate the creation of this new phase – ‘SDG Lab 2.0’ – as we continue to evolve. You encouraged us to reflect on how to make our work more impactful and forward-looking; to focus on the ‘beyonds’ and what’s next, as well as what we might be missing; and to explore topics at the margins of sustainable development and bring them to the centre. We took your feedback to heart.
Our journey this year has been an exciting one. We kickstarted new initiatives and learnings aimed at bringing our new vision to life—of imagining and co-creating a sustainable world where current and future generations thrive. All our efforts and interactions were anchored in this long-term goal and ambition.
A key flagship activity we launched midyear to make this aspiration more tangible, among others, is our What’s Next inter-generational dialogue series.
Aimed at harnessing collective intelligence to explore new perspectives and ideas, and demystify emerging trends for long-term sustainability, the Lab’s What’s Next exemplifies SDG Lab 2.0 in action. In doing so, we engaged stakeholders from different disciplines and backgrounds in dynamic, honest, and, at times, uneasy conversations on re-imagining and crafting the future of sustainable development.
If you have some appetite and interest over the holiday break to read more about our What’s Next insights and dialogues in 2023, I warmly invite you to check out the summary we developed. We compiled it to capture highlights of the three dialogues – on placing future generations at the heart of long-term sustainability, on re-thinking economic systems, and on the role of emotions. We hope it will provide you with a stimulating reflection on some topics that are at the core of our work moving ahead.
Thank you once again for your encouragement and collaboration. We couldn’t have done it without you.
We look forward to continuing our collaboration in the new year: by exploring what’s next, by building on the foundations laid in 2023, and by living up to our highest commitment—to be the change we want to see in the world.
Wishing you and yours happy holidays and a healthy start to 2024.
Özge Aydogan and the SDG Lab team