Fostering international harmony: Hamburg Sustainability Conference establishes novel partnerships for a durable future
The 2025 Hamburg Sustainability Conference: A Pivotal Event Amid Global Tensions
The second edition of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) took place on June 2 and 3, 2025, in Hamburg, Germany. This significant event attracted over 1,600 participants from more than 110 countries, emphasising its importance in driving sustainable development dialogue amid ongoing global political complexities.
The conference's focus was on forging new alliances and creating commitment and vision to implement the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a strong emphasis on climate, biodiversity, and social-environmental anchors.
Key objectives included scaling investments to advance SDGs, climate action, and biodiversity conservation, while fostering cross-sector collaboration for sustainability strategies. The conference also addressed emerging environmental health risks such as PFAS chemicals in refrigerants, reflecting a comprehensive engagement with sustainability challenges at both policy and innovation levels.
Notable participants included Michael Ofto, Antoine Denoix, Günther Thallinger, Amitabh Behar, Sania Nishtar, Carolina Pasquali, Elizabeth Wathuti, and Daniel de Graaf from the German Environment Agency (UBA), among others. De Graaf contributed expert insights on PFAS risks and regulatory responses, highlighting the involvement of high-profile specialists.
The conference was opened by Reem Alabali-Radovan, the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Peter Tschentscher, the First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. The subsequent opening panel featured Reem Alabali-Radovan, Joyelle Clarke, Rebeca Grynspan, Cindy McCain, and Maropene Ramokgopa.
The conference was supported by a strong alliance including the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Michael Ofto Foundation, and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The event was not related to EB Publishing or any advertisements.
From June 1 to 6, Hamburg Sustainability Week 2025 took place, offering a diverse program aimed at engaging the people of Hamburg and the wider public. Livestreams of selected sessions could also be found on the conference's official website.
The conference had a global scope and delivered important progress in 2024 with tangible results such as the Hamburg Declaration on the Decarbonisation of Global Shipping, the Hamburg Declaration on Green Aviation, and the first governments joining the Global Battery Alliance.
In conclusion, the 2025 Hamburg Sustainability Conference was a pivotal event that aimed to forge alliances for sustainable development and accelerate progress on the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. It demonstrated a concerted effort to keep the sustainability dialogue active despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
- The Hamburg Sustainability Conference highlighted a commitment and vision to implement the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encompassing climate, biodiversity, and social-environmental anchors.
- Key objectives of the conference included scaling investments to advance SDGs, climate action, and biodiversity conservation, emphasizing the importance of financial commitment in sustainability efforts.
- The conference addressed emerging environmental health risks, showcasing a strong engagement with sustainability challenges at both policy and innovation levels, such as PFAS chemicals in refrigerants.
- The conference featured expert insights from specialists like Daniel de Graaf from the German Environment Agency (UBA) on PFAS risks and regulatory responses, bringing together influential minds in sustainability, science, and environmental-science.
- Business, policy-and-legislation, and politics were brought together at the conference, with the support of key partners including the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Michael Ofto Foundation, and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
- The Hamburg Sustainability Conference’s global scope resulted in important progress, such as the Hamburg Declaration on the Decarbonisation of Global Shipping, the Hamburg Declaration on Green Aviation, and the first governments joining the Global Battery Alliance, demonstrating a concerted effort in climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation within the broader context of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
