Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
More than 800 people from over 75 countries came together virtually on 3rd June 2025 for the eleventh edition of the RELX SDG Inspiration Day: "The Future of Philanthropy: Stepping up for the SDGs" The annual online event brings together together business, academia, NGOs and government to explore pressing issues and inspire action on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Explore highlights from the day including inspiring keynotes from Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General of the United Nations, Sir Lenny Henry and Sarah, Duchess of York.
This study employs high-resolution UAV thermal imagery and machine learning to analyze microscale urban heat patterns in a vulnerable residential neighborhood in Daejeon, South Korea, identifying key factors such as alley width and proximity to rivers that influence thermal vulnerability. By informing targeted heat mitigation strategies in urban regeneration areas, the research supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), advancing the World Population Day goal to �Leave No One Behind� by addressing localized climate risks in densely populated, marginalized urban settings.
This study uses a participatory Design Thinking approach in Cork City, Ireland, to identify stakeholder priorities for effective air quality communication strategies that empower communities and support behavioral change. By integrating inclusive communication with systemic policy and infrastructure improvements, the research advances SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), aligning with World Population Day's call to "Leave No One Behind" by addressing environmental health inequities in urban populations.
The RELX SDG Inspiration Day 2025 focuses on the role of philanthropy in bridging the funding gap to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, featuring insights from prominent thought leaders. To commemorate this event, Elsevier has curated a free Special Collection with the latest research on philanthropy and the SDGs.
This perspective highlights the challenges and opportunities of implementing people-centered multi-hazard early warning systems in the Global South, emphasizing the need for localized, inclusive approaches that address vulnerability and the complex interrelationships of hazards, to bridge the gap between global ambitions and operational realities.
This backstory highlights the importance of interdisciplinary and participatory approaches in advancing the One Health concept, using lessons from an international workshop in Lao PDR to address existing knowledge gaps and improve global health security strategies.
