Millets are emerging as a key candidate for developing climate-resilient food systems, while simultaneously offering options for sustainable solutions to other global challenges such as food insecurity and malnutrition. Known as “climate-smart crops,” millets exhibit exceptional traits like drought and heat tolerance, survival with low water requirements, survival in marginalized lands and degraded soils, and adaptability to semi-arid and arid regions, making them ideal for building resilient agricultural systems. Additionally, their high nutritional value—rich in protein, dietary fiber, and essential micronutrients like iron, zinc and calcium, as well as having a low to moderate glycemic index—addresses malnutrition and reduces the risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases. Millets also deliver significant environmental benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved soil health, and a lower carbon foot print while also able to survive with less water compared to the major staple cereals. These attributes position millets as a strategic crop for promoting sustainable agriculture, mitigating climate change, supporting marginalized small holder farmers’ livelihoods and resilience, while enhancing global nutrition security. However, realizing their full potential requires overcoming challenges related to consumer acceptance, market integration, and policy prioritization. This paper provides a comprehensive exploration of the evidence surrounding millet’s contributions to climate-resilient food systems, identifies critical knowledge gaps, and proposes pathways to advance millet-based solutions. With integrated efforts in research, innovation, and advocacy, millets can play a transformative role in achieving numerous Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in unison and fostering a more sustainable, resilient and healthy future.