How can individuals and communities be enabled to make sound decisions conducive to sustainable development? This question was discussed at this year's High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) of the United Nations. The side event “Mind Matters More Than Money – Boosting Cognitive Competences for Sustainable Development through Science and Education”, organized by the Leopoldina and other partner institutions, took place at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, July 11.