Sustainability Calendar, 2025 milestones for the sustainable development

The annual calendar is full of events, saints’ days and anniversaries of all kinds. Yet, one type of celebration is becoming increasingly prominent on institutional agendas and social media; international days.

To highlight the importance of dedicating at least one day a year to raising awareness of pressing global issues, we have created a Sustainability Calendar: an essential guide for 2025 that brings together the most significant international and world days for the sustainable development of the planet.

Click on the image to see the Sustainability Calendar:

The importance of International and World Days

Why are International Days so vital? At first glance, celebrating World Bee Day or World Migratory Bird Day might seem trivial. However, these observances draw attention to critical issues and encourage reflection.

Take bees, for example. Their inclusion in the calendar aims to raise awareness of the challenges threatening their survival. Solutions like bee-friendly bus stop gardens are just one example of how to address these threats. By dedicating a day to bees, more people understand the profound impact their disappearance would have—not just on bees themselves but on ecosystems worldwide.

The overarching goal of international and world days is to educate the public about specific issues and inspire governments to take action. Examples include the International Day of Forests and World Energy Efficiency Day.

Who chooses International Days?

Most international days are proposed by the States of the United Nations General Assembly and approved, or rejected, by consensus of the Organisation. Usually the topics are related to the main areas of action of the United Nations, such as peacekeeping, the fight for human rights, the fight against climate change or the conservation of the planet. In fact, in its resolutions, the Assembly normally explains the reasons why it has chosen a certain day and date.

At other times, one of the United Nations agencies, such as UNESCO, UNICEF or the World Health Organization, submits a proposal to the UN General Assembly for their approval. If these matters are within their competence, the agencies themselves can sometimes proclaim an international day without going through the Assembly.

The UN uses these events not only to raise awareness and understanding about global issues such as climate change, but to advise States on the initiatives that they can take to mitigate some of the issues highlighted by these dates. On International Day for Biological Diversity, for example, the Organisation invites its members to sign and ratify the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

In addition to these, there are other days that are celebrated thanks to the momentum of social groups and that become so popular that they are finally institutionalised, as in the case of LGBT Pride Day.

Sustainability Calendar

Each day of the calendar has its celebration, but the United Nations also usually highlights a specific issue and makes it the protagonist of the world agenda for an entire year. This time, the UN has declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, an initiative aimed at showcasing the transformative potential of cooperatives across economic, social, and environmental spheres.

The International Year of Cooperatives 2025 seeks to go beyond symbolic recognition. It aims to emphasise their significance while fostering an environment that supports their growth and success. The UN envisions forums, exhibitions, and campaigns worldwide to motivate citizens, governments, and institutions to unite in support of cooperatives.

As we approach 2025, the message is clear: to achieve a fairer, more sustainable, and inclusive future, cooperatives must play a central role—not just as participants in the conversation, but as leaders of it. By the end of this thematic year, cooperatives may no longer be seen as just another piece of the puzzle but recognised as key drivers in creating a better global system.

Source: UN