With less than five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, actor and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza continues among a select group of global leaders advancing the United Nations’ sustainability agenda.
Mumbai: Actor and environmental advocate Dia Mirza will continue serving as a United Nations Secretary-General’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocate, reaffirming her long-standing commitment to global sustainability as UN Secretary-General António Guterres unveiled a refreshed leadership team to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The announcement comes at a critical juncture, with fewer than five years left to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Recognising the urgency, Guterres appointed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as the new Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates, alongside Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. Sánchez succeeds former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, strengthening the leadership driving international action on sustainable development.
Mirza remains part of an influential group of global changemakers drawn from government, philanthropy, business, academia and the arts. The current roster includes Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar, economist Jeffrey Sachs, Microsoft President Brad Smith, chef and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Massimo Bottura, designer Diane von Furstenberg, broadcaster Lilly Singh, philanthropist Graça Machel, disability rights advocate Muniba Mazari, and Indigenous climate leader Hindou Ibrahim, among others.
A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador, Mirza has consistently championed climate action, biodiversity conservation, sustainable lifestyles and efforts to combat plastic pollution. Over the years, she has represented India at major international environmental forums, supported wildlife conservation initiatives and used her public platform to encourage informed, policy-driven action on environmental issues.
Her continued appointment reflects years of sustained engagement with the UN’s sustainability mission. Unlike many campaign-specific ambassadors, Mirza has remained actively involved across multiple global initiatives, helping raise awareness, foster partnerships and mobilise support for the SDGs, which encompass priorities ranging from climate action and quality education to gender equality, responsible consumption and poverty eradication.
Accepting his new role as Co-Chair, Pedro Sánchez described the 2030 Agenda as “the roadmap that enables us to tackle the major challenges of our time,” underscoring the need for renewed global cooperation to meet the ambitious targets.
Reflecting on her continued role, Dia Mirza said, “This journey has taught me that caring for the planet is ultimately an expression of caring for one another. It is impossible to separate the health of our forests, rivers and oceans from the health of our children and our communities. I am grateful to continue as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocate. It strengthens my resolve to keep listening, learning and lending my voice to those working tirelessly to protect people and nature. We may have less than five years to achieve the Global Goals, but I truly believe hope grows when we act together—one choice, one community and one act of kindness at a time.”
As the United Nations enters the decisive final phase of the 2030 Agenda, Dia Mirza continues to represent India within one of the organisation’s most influential advocacy groups, contributing to global conversations on sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
