Dia Mirza clocks in 7 years among UN’s SDG Advocates as Spain’s PM takes the helm

STRAP – With less than five years left to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the actor and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador among a select group of global leaders advising and amplifying the United Nations’ development agenda.

Actor and environmental campaigner Dia Mirza will continue to serve as one of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocates, as António Guterres announced a new leadership team for the high-profile global advocacy group tasked with accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda.

The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday named 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. With fewer than five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, Guterres understands the urgency of collective action, warning that the global targets are “at risk of slipping out of reach.”

Dia Mirza continues to be part of a selected group of global leaders drawn from government, philanthropy, business, academia and the arts who work alongside the Secretary-General to mobilise public support for the SDGs. The current roster includes Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar, economist Jeffrey Sachs, Microsoft President Brad Smith, chef and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Massimo Bottura, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, broadcaster Lily Singh, philanthropist Graça Machel, disability rights advocate Muniba Mazari and climate activist Hindou Ibrahim, among others.

Mirza’s inclusion reflects years of sustained environmental advocacy. A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador, she has consistently championed climate action, biodiversity conservation, sustainable consumption and the fight against plastic pollution. She has represented India at international environmental forums, supported wildlife conservation initiatives and frequently used her public platform to advocate for policy-driven environmental action.

Unlike many celebrity ambassadors whose engagement is campaign-specific, Mirza has remained closely associated with the UN’s sustainability agenda across multiple global initiatives. The SDG Advocates are powerful voices that support the Secretary-General in raising awareness, building partnerships and creating momentum for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by UN member states in 2015. Their mandate spans issues ranging from climate action and quality education to poverty eradication, gender equality and responsible consumption.

Accepting his new role as Co-Chair, Sánchez described the 2030 Agenda as “the roadmap that enables us to tackle the major challenges of our time.”

As the UN enters the final stretch towards its 2030 deadline, Dia Mirza remains India’s voice within one of the organisation’s most influential advocacy groups, continuing to contribute to conversations on sustainable development.

Talking about it, she told us, “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.”