Goal 17 of the 2030 Agenda emphasizes the importance of enhancing global partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, with only half a decade remaining, the global community needs to accelerate its collective efforts to achieve the set targets.  While Track 1 Dialogue, or government-to-government interaction, remains the primary mechanism for adopting international laws and agreements, the widening disparities between the Global North and South, exacerbated by post-pandemic challenges and geopolitical tensions, have emerged as major obstacles to the process.

Against this backdrop, Track 1.5 Dialogue led by civil society organizations (CSOs), which engages both governmental and non-governmental actors, can play a critical role in bridging these divides. By fostering multi-stakeholder engagement, enabling inclusive partnerships, and complementing governmental efforts, this approach holds significant promise for accelerating progress towards the SDGs.

Urgency of the Situation

In 2015, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted the Resolution on 'Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development' (United Nations, 2015). Consisting of 17 broad goals and 169 detailed targets, the ambitious agenda was formulated to steer global initiatives towards sustainable development until 2030. It acknowledged that eradicating poverty and other forms of deprivation must be accompanied by strategies that enhance health and education, reduce inequality, and promote economic growth, while simultaneously addressing climate change and preserving oceans and forests.

However, according to the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report (United Nations, 2024) only 17% of the targets are on track, with nearly half showing minimal or moderate advancement, while progress on more than one-third has either stalled or regressed. The UN Secretary General Antonia Guterres brings to attention the interconnected nature of global crises that have compounded these challenges. The lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising geopolitical tensions, intensifying conflicts, and worsening climate disruptions have collectively disrupted efforts to meet the 2030 targets.

Adding to these hurdles are deep-rooted systemic inequities in the global economic and financial structures, which disproportionately burden developing countries. For example, Africa has received only 3%  of the global climate finance despite contributing the least to global emissions (Detelinova, 2024). Similarly, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face heightened vulnerability to climate-induced disasters but lack adequate international support (Canagarajah, 2024).

Understanding the Various Forms of Dialogues 

In the realm of diplomacy, interactions between nations occur at multiple levels, ranging from highly formal governmental engagements to informal discussions led by academics and CSOs. These interactions can be categorized into Track 1, Track 2, and Track 1.5 Dialogue, each playing a unique role in fostering communication and resolving global concerns (Longhini and Zimmerman 2021).

Track 1 Dialogue is the traditional and official form of diplomacy, organized by or with direct involvement of the state. These meetings are attended by Diplomats, Heads of States and other government authorities. The high-level summits organized by the United Nations (UN) and bilaterally negotiations between nations fall under this category.  

In contrast, Track 2 dialogue is an unofficial channel of diplomacy between non-state actors, without direct government involvement, and aims to achieve a specific goals, such as enhancing partnerships between nations. Academic institutions and CSOs usually sponsor such dialogues, often involving senior non-serving officials with rich past experience and access to official policy making circles. For example, the India–US Track 2 Dialogue on Climate Change and Energy, organized by the Ananta Aspen Centre, India, and the Aspen Institute, United States (US), has been held annually since 2010 (Ananta Aspen Centre, 2024). Acting as a bridge between Track 1 and 2, Track 1.5 represents a hybrid form of dialogue, organized by CSOs but with state-level backing and participation. It aims to address a wider agenda and is not restricted to a specific issue. Participants include multiple stakeholders, involving non-state actors and government representatives.  The Raisina Dialogue series hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India since 2016, is an example of Track 1.5 Dialogue (Ministry of External Affairs, 2024).

There are not many differences between Track 1.5 and Track 2, other than latter not involving serving officials. However, both aim to facilitate Track 1 dialogue by providing a platform for all stakeholders to freely address sticky issues in a conducive environment. With the rise and engagement of CSOs or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) - voluntary groups led by civil society actors with a common purpose and a non-profit motive, particularly in the post-Cold War era, the world has seen an increase in Track 1.5 events (Burlinova, 2022).

Significance of Track 1.5 Dialogue

Highly politicized issues, such as climate finance, technology transfer, and the socio-economic impacts of transitioning to green economies, remain contentious in official forums. The recent impasse at COP29 in Baku exemplifies these challenges (Chandrasekhar, 2024). When formal diplomatic channels become gridlocked, Track 1.5 Dialogues can offer alternative avenues for meaningful discussions, fresh perspectives, and innovative solutions.

A Multi-stakeholder platform for discourse building

Track 1.5 Dialogues provide a common platform for a diverse range of stakeholders from government, multilateral organizations, civil society, and private sector to share their perspectives and engage in discussions. It allows for the maintenance and strengthening of communication on critical issues and developing a deeper understanding of cultural context. This can, in turn, lead to exploring new ideas that potentially can be fed to Track 1 dialogues (Sokol, 2022).

For instance, since its inception in 2001, the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), has convened 58 Heads of State, 137 Ministers, 13 Nobel Laureates, and 2,045 Business Leaders to address critical issues related to climate change and environmental protection. The Summit's activities are guided by the theory of constructivism, that is, providing a platform for stakeholders to socialize, engage in dialogue, and actively shape knowledge rather than merely remain passive recipients of information (TERI, 2024).

TERI's success in advancing this mission stems from its multifaceted approach as a research institution. For over five decades, it is dedicated to fostering change through interdisciplinary research, policy advocacy, and the development of innovative technologies across diverse areas, including energy, energy efficiency transitions, sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly transportation, sustainable development, efficient building practices, and climate action.

Open and free environment

Since Track 1.5 Dialogue does not carry the burden of official talks, it offers the participants, a free and open space to build trust and hold conversations with their official counterparts which is not possible in Track 1 dialogue. Track 1.5 Dialogue also keeps a channel of communication open in situations, where due to political reasons, the official counterparts are not talking to each other (Staats, 2019).

However, the value of such dialogues evolves over time through continuous engagement. A study found that a series of Track 1.5 Dialogues on nuclear issues in the early 2000s helped dispel misperceptions and contributed to sensitizing the next generation of officials and experts. Simultaneously, these dialogues enabled the current generation to assess the complexities of ongoing debates (Wheeler, 2014).

Policy enhancement and testing new ideas

These platforms also allow officials to test new ideas through 'trial balloon' approaches, that is, receiving feedback before introducing them into formal negotiations. The discussions also enable them to gain a clearer picture of how their policy initiatives will be perceived by their foreign counterparts (Staats, 2019).  For example, at the 2009 Shangri-La Dialogue, prompted by the Sichuan earthquake and Cyclone Nargis, attending ministers discussed the need to establish guiding principles for responding to humanitarian disasters (Longhini and Zimmerman, 2021).

For these dialogues to be effective, they must be linked to the formal policy process. To enhance the relevance of Track 1.5 Dialogues, government representatives should relay their learnings to their respective agencies, while non-government participants should be encouraged to convey their insights to government officials.

Enabling Partnerships

Track 1.5 Dialogue can act as a driving force for action by nurturing collaborations among a wide range of stakeholders, encouraging shared responsibility, pooling of resources, and the creation of innovative solutions to address global challenges.

WSDS has consistently served as a platform for fostering such partnerships. Some of the recent notable examples with the Government of India, UN and the Corporate Sector include:

Partnerships to drive India's energy transition

At WSDS 2024, the Ministry of Power, in partnership with TERI, initiated the concept of the Institute of Energy Transition. This endeavour highlights the importance of collaborative efforts between the Government of India and TERI in exploring sustainable energy solutions and promoting innovation in the field of renewable energy (TERI, 2024).

TERI's partnership with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

During WSDS 2023, a letter of intent was signed between the UNFCCC Secretariat and TERI to collaborate on energy transition, mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable development. The partnership aims to leverage their combined expertise to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, data, and research in climate science, technology, and innovation. It also seeks to promote expert exchanges to strengthen dialogue and enhance global cooperation in addressing climate change (TERI, 2023).

Collaborations with Indian industry

At WSDS 2023, TERI and Capgemini formalized their partnership by signing a memorandum of understanding to enhance collaboration in advancing sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. This alliance combines Capgemini's proficiency in sustainable advisory services and digital solutions with TERI's extensive expertise in clean energy, water management, carbon sequestration, climate change, and sustainability. By leveraging their complementary strengths, the two organizations aim to develop innovative solutions for both new and existing clients, promote industry-wide sustainability transformation, and foster knowledge sharing, technology integration, and strategic partnerships (TERI, 2023).

The Act4Earth initiative 

The Act4Earth initiative, launched in WSDS 2021, embodies this approach by engaging governments, businesses, academia, and civil society through research and dialogue. Its primary objective is to accelerate progress on sustainable development and climate solutions by encouraging evidence-based policymaking, capacity-building, and knowledge exchange. Since its inception in 2021, the initiative has organized numerous side events, mini-dialogues, and produced various knowledge documents to facilitate informed discussions and drive collective action (TERI, 2022).

Conclusion

Track 1.5 Dialogues serve as a crucial bridge between formal and informal diplomacy, fostering trust and enabling multi-stakeholder engagement on critical global challenges including climate action and sustainable development. Their flexible and inclusive structure encourages open discussions and policy experimentation, often complementing official negotiations.

By incorporating diverse perspectives into policy dialogues, Track 1.5 Dialogues enhance long-term diplomatic understanding and promote enduring partnerships.Looking ahead, as global crises become increasingly interconnected, these dialogues will be vital in addressing challenges beyond 2030. Emerging issues such as climate-induced migration, digital governance, and shifting geopolitical alliances highlight the growing need for adaptable, inclusive, and action-oriented dialogue platforms.

References

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