Quantum leap for sustainability: How the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025 supports the global goals
In 2025, the world celebrates a century of quantum mechanics through the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025), as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (Resolution 78/287). This milestone marks not just a retrospective of one of the most transformative scientific revolutions of the 20th century but also a forward-looking initiative linking quantum innovation with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From advancing clean energy systems to securing communication infrastructures, quantum technologies hold growing promise to help address global sustainability challenges.
The global relevance of quantum science
The UN’s recognition of IYQ 2025 underscores a pivotal truth: Quantum science is no longer confined to laboratories, but is rapidly becoming embedded in real-world technologies. Its influence stretches across SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). With the increasing demand for secure data transfer, renewable energy optimisation, and enhanced diagnostic tools in healthcare, quantum solutions are being positioned as fundamental drivers of sustainable development.
Currently, quantum-based sensors are enabling ultra-precise monitoring of climate variables such as CO₂ emissions and oceanic temperatures. Quantum computers, still in their early stages, promise to revolutionise the modelling of complex systems, including weather patterns, which will be essential for climate resilience planning. According to McKinsey & Company, investment in quantum technologies surpassed USD 35 billion globally by 2023, with more than 40 countries publishing national quantum strategies—reflecting its increasing strategic importance.
Education, equity and the quantum divide
A key aim of IYQ 2025 is to address global disparities in access to quantum education. Ensuring equitable participation aligns directly with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). The initiative emphasises the inclusion of women and youth, especially from developing nations, in quantum training and careers. Historically, access to advanced scientific education has remained concentrated in high-income regions, yet the future of technological equity depends on diversifying the talent pool.
Global programmes like Qubit by Qubit, in collaboration with IBM and MIT, are already offering free quantum computing courses to high school students worldwide, targeting underrepresented communities. These initiatives aim to prepare a global workforce capable of navigating and innovating within the quantum age.
Collaboration for quantum-powered sustainability
Fostering international cooperation among academia, industry and policy-makers is another core objective of IYQ 2025. Quantum science, by its very nature, requires cross-border knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration. During the opening ceremony in February 2025 at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters, thought leaders from 60 countries discussed collaborative frameworks to scale quantum research and translate discoveries into sustainable applications.
A prominent example is the Quantum Energy Initiative (QEI)—a global research consortium launched in 2022 with the goal of exploring how quantum technologies can enhance the energy efficiency of computing and communication systems. Supported by institutions across Europe, Asia, and Africa, QEI focuses on defining scientific benchmarks to reduce the thermodynamic cost of quantum operations, which is critical in an era of increasing digital consumption.
QEI’s mission aligns with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Among its research areas are:
Quantum thermodynamics, exploring how fundamental quantum laws can improve energy management in computing;
Low-energy quantum sensors, used to optimise energy grids and detect environmental changes with minimal power;
Sustainable quantum computing architectures, aimed at lowering the carbon footprint of data centres and supercomputers.
In a recent white paper, QEI forecast that innovations in quantum-enabled algorithms could reduce energy demands by up to 90% in certain industrial simulation processes by 2040. Their findings are shaping public policy recommendations in countries such as Germany and South Korea, where green quantum strategies are becoming integral to national innovation agendas.
A century of quantum progress and the road ahead
Looking back, 1925 marked a turning point in science with the formulation of modern quantum mechanics. Today, a century later, its practical applications are beginning to reshape how societies function. While challenges remain—including the high cost of quantum hardware and the need for specialised infrastructure—the momentum is undeniable. Forecasts suggest that by 2040, quantum technologies could contribute more than USD 1 trillion in economic value globally, with significant implications for sectors driving the SDGs.
The role of the Global Society in this context is essential. Institutions and grassroots movements must work in concert to ensure that quantum advances benefit humanity as a whole and do not widen existing technological divides. Platforms like the Global Society Institute (GSI) and partnerships with the Anna Lindh Foundation are promoting dialogues to align quantum progress with inclusive and sustainable development pathways.
The International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025 is more than a celebration of the past—it is a call to shape the future. As the world navigates interconnected crises, from climate change to energy insecurity, quantum science offers tools that could redefine solutions. Ensuring that these advances are accessible, equitable and sustainable is critical to fulfilling the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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