As the world grapples with raging conflicts, a spiraling climate crisis, and the disruptive rise of artificial intelligence, the 8th Paris Peace Forum, set for October 29-30, 2025, at Palais de Chaillot, emerges as a bold crucible for change. Under the theme “New Coalitions for Peace, People, and the Planet,” this gathering isn’t just another diplomatic summit—it’s a call to reforge global cooperation in a fractured era. With over 300 global leaders from the Global North and South, including trailblazers like Teresa Ribera, Jacinda Ardern, and Yoshua Bengio, the Forum aims to spark actionable solutions for peace, democracy, and sustainability. As it marks the Paris Agreement’s 10th anniversary, can this unique platform turn urgency into impact?
A World in Turmoil Demands New Alliances
Conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan claim lives daily, while climate-fueled disasters—like 2024’s record-breaking floods in Southeast Asia and wildfires in Europe—intensify. Add to that shrinking aid budgets, with global humanitarian funding dropping 17% since 2022, and the unchecked rise of AI threatening both jobs and information integrity. Since its inception in 2018, the Paris Peace Forum has championed innovative governance to tackle such shared challenges, and this year’s edition doubles down with a coalition-driven approach.
Unlike traditional summits, the Forum blends voices from governments, tech giants, civil society, and academia, ensuring perspectives from both powerhouses like the EU and rising players like Pakistan and Congo. Hosted across three stunning venues near the Eiffel Tower—Musée de l’Homme, Musée National de la Marine, and Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine—it’s a stage for 300+ leaders and thousands of attendees to rewrite the rules of diplomacy.
Star Power for a Planetary Reset
The 2025 lineup reads like a who’s-who of global problem-solvers:
- Teresa Ribera, EU’s Executive Vice-President, will push for a “clean, just” energy transition, critical as Europe aims for 55% emissions cuts by 2030.
- Jacinda Ardern, former New Zealand PM, brings her Christchurch Call expertise to combat online extremism, vital in an era of AI-driven misinformation.
- Yoshua Bengio, AI pioneer, will explore how technologies like generative AI can serve peace, not polarization, amid global AI investments hitting $200 billion in 2024.
- Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan’s foreign affairs leader, will advocate for Global South priorities, amplifying calls for equitable climate finance.
- Moussa Faki, ex-African Union head, will champion the Pact for Prosperity, pushing for child-focused development to lift 200 million African youth by 2035.
These leaders, alongside figures like Aga Khan and Microsoft’s Lisa Monaco, will tackle five urgent priorities: conflict prevention, democratic resilience, child-centric development, AI for inclusive growth, and climate action. Their diversity—spanning continents, sectors, and expertise—sets the Forum apart, fostering coalitions that transcend traditional geopolitics.
A Timely Tribute to the Paris Agreement
As COP30 looms in Belém, Brazil, the Forum’s timing is serendipitous, coinciding with the Paris Agreement’s 10th anniversary. With 2024 clocking the hottest year on record at 1.52°C above pre-industrial levels, the urgency for climate breakthroughs is palpable. The Forum will spotlight “transformative climate solutions,” from scaling renewables—now 30% of global electricity—to mobilizing $1 trillion in annual adaptation finance for vulnerable nations. Leaders like Ribera and Rémy Rioux of France’s AFD will push for debt-for-climate swaps, potentially unlocking $100 billion for Global South resilience.
Reimagining Diplomacy for a Fractured World
What sets the Paris Peace Forum apart is its refusal to rely on stale summitry. It’s a laboratory for “new coalitions,” where grassroots innovators like Trisha Shetty of SheSays meet tech titans like OpenAI’s Lauren Haber Jonas. Sessions will dive into practical solutions: AI ethics frameworks to curb deepfakes, which surged 300% in 2024; peacebuilding models for Sudan, where 25 million need aid; and education initiatives to empower 600 million children at risk from conflict and climate shocks.
The Forum’s focus on democracy is timely, with 2025 seeing 70 elections globally, many marred by disinformation. Initiatives like Ardern’s Christchurch Call will propose real-time monitoring tools, while Steinberg’s academic lens will unpack hybrid threats. Meanwhile, child-focused development—backed by Faki and Abulhoul—aims to redirect 10% of global aid ($20 billion) to education and health by 2030.
Can Paris 2025 Spark a Global Pivot?
The Forum’s ambition is clear: move beyond talk to tangible coalitions. Its track record speaks volumes—since 2018, it’s incubated 50+ projects, from ocean conservation pacts to refugee tech hubs. Yet challenges loom: geopolitical rifts, like U.S.-China tensions, could dampen consensus, and aid cuts—down $30 billion globally since 2022—threaten momentum.
Still, the Forum’s strength lies in its inclusivity. By amplifying Global South voices—like Khar and Gakosso—it ensures solutions aren’t dictated by the North. Social media buzz, with #ParisPeaceForum2025 trending, reflects hope: posts from activists in Nairobi to coders in Bangalore call it a “beacon” for collaboration.
As Paris prepares to host this vibrant summit, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Can these coalitions deliver peace in Sudan, democracy amid AI chaos, or climate justice before 1.5°C slips away? The Palais de Chaillot won’t just host debates—it’s where the world’s next chapter of cooperation could be written. Join the movement, because peace, people, and planet demand it.
