From September 6 to 8, 2025, the 5th International Forum on Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (FBAS 2025) was successfully convened at the Beijing International Convention Center. As part of the Forum, the Youth Innovation Special Session themed "Digital Intelligence Driving Sustainable Development - Youth Action" was held on the afternoon of September 6. From September 7 to 8, six youth parallel sessions followed, focusing on food, water, cities, climate and disasters, ecology and energy, as well as comprehensive interdisciplinary topics. Featuring six thematic reports, over 100 special presentations, and open discussions, the youth activities fully showcased the latest research progress achieved by young scholars in applying big data and artificial intelligence to support the SDGs. More than 300 young scholars from over 20 countries attended the sessions, contributing to strengthened global youth collaboration and knowledge exchange in sustainable development.

The Youth Innovation Special Session was jointly organized by the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE), The World Academy of Sciences Young Affiliates Network (TWAS TYAN), and the Chinese National Committee of ISDE (CNISDE). Co-organizers included the CAS–TWAS Centre of Excellence on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation (SDIM), the ISDE - Young Scientists Innovation Network (ISDE-YSIN), and the Young Scientist Working Committee of CNISDE, with support from National Remote Sensing Bulletin and Journal of Remote Sensing.

On-site view of the Youth Innovation Special Session

At the opening ceremony, Academician GUO Huadong, Director General of CBAS; Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, President of TWAS; and Professor WANG Changlin, Secretary-General of ISDE, delivered remarks. They emphasized the vital role of young researchers in driving interdisciplinary innovation and advancing scientific and technological support for sustainable development.

Opening remarks at the Youth Innovation Special Session (Academician GUO Huadong, TWAS President Quarraisha Abdool Karim, and ISDE Secretary-General WANG Changlin)

The thematic report sections were co-chaired by Prof. CHEN Fang, Deputy Director General of CBAS, Director of CAS-TWAS SDIM; and Prof. Ren Huazhong from Peking University. Six young scholars, including WANG Tao from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Prajal Pradhan from the University of Groningen, Netherlands; DONG Jinwei from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS; LI Dongfeng from Peking University; Chen Bin from the University of Hong Kong; and WANG Wenliang from Beijing Normal University, shared their latest research findings related to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The reports primarily covered topics such as the response of the Tibetan Plateau's carbon cycle to climate change, an innovative framework for "Artificial Intelligence for SDGs" (AI4SDGs), achievements in remote sensing analysis of agricultural land systems based on big data, using river big data to support sustainable hydropower development and flood resilience in High Mountain Asia, the latest progress in geospatial analysis technology for multi-faceted urban environmental monitoring, and dynamic poverty mapping and long-term change analysis based on high-resolution imagery.

Prof. CHEN Fang and REN Huazhong chair the thematic report sections

Thematic report sections

Two open discussion sections were chaired by Prof. DONG Jinwei and Dr. Prajal Pradhan, respectively. More than ten young scholars from countries including Nepal, Malaysia, and China engaged in further discussions on topics such as "How Digital Technologies Can Advance the SDGs." Participants unanimously agreed that digital technologies hold great potential in agricultural modernization, disaster early warning, and urban management. However, there is a need to enhance their accessibility and adaptability in Global South countries. They called for strengthened multi-stakeholder collaboration among governments, academia, and industry to promote data openness and ethical governance, ensuring that digital technologies truly benefit global sustainable development.

Open discussion sections

Additionally, FBAS 2025 also included six youth parallel sessions, with more than 100 young scholars and students presenting their latest research outcomes.

At the closing ceremony of FBAS 2025, Academician Guo Huadong, the Chair of the Forum; Csaba Kőrösi, 77th President of the United Nations General Assembly; and other distinguished guests, together with the conveners of each parallel session, presented awards to the authors of outstanding oral and poster presentations.

Awarding of outstanding oral and poster presentations

The Youth Innovation Special Session of this year demonstrated the expanding application of digital technologies in addressing global challenges including climate change, energy transition, and poverty reduction. It also highlighted the growing leadership of young scientists in promoting global sustainable development. The session called on youth worldwide to deepen international cooperation and jointly advance innovative and inclusive digital solutions for the SDGs.

Held annually, the FBAS Youth Innovation Special Session continues to provide an important platform for young experts and scholars in climate change, education, health, poverty reduction, and related fields to exchange ideas, share successful practices, and contribute new insights and technological solutions to global sustainable development.

The Forum encourages youth to share successful cases and experiences of using digital technologies to promote the achievement of the SDGs, providing new ideas and solutions for sustainable development through academic advancement and knowledge innovation, thereby contributing wisdom and strength to building a greener, more sustainable future.