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Hamburg
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Exterior view of the Conference Center Hamburg (CCH). © Hamburg Messe und Congress / Piet Niemann
People of different genders and nationalities sit in front of microphones. The woman in the foreground is wearing a white headscarf. © Adobe Stock / pressmaster

Uniting Policy Makers and Business Leaders to Accelerate SDG Performance

Addressing challenges fast

We are running out of time to resolve existential threats such as poverty, hunger and climate change. We need courageous decisions and large-scale solutions. The Hamburg Sustainability Conference challenges barriers to SDG implementation, while steering momentum with a systemic approach to answer questions such as: How can value chains become climate-friendly and create more value in the Global South? How can the enormous potential of the private sector be unleashed to achieve the SDGs? And how can we help  today's sustainability pioneers to set tomorrow's standards?

Confronting a world slowed down by conflict

“The SDGs are in great difficulty," says UN Secretary-General António Guterres and calls for a rescue plan to save humanity and our planet. Our world is in transition. In times of increasing geopolitical crises, challenges are continually growing. A new impetus is needed to improve the ability of the global community to collaborate and advance the implementation of the SDGs by 2030.

Improving global collaboration

The Hamburg Sustainability Conference is driven by the vision that reaching the SDGs requires interdisciplinary and trustful collaboration among the international community. The conference aims to foster new partnerships and collective action of those who are willing to commit to action: global policy makers, private sector leaders, academia experts, and civil society representatives. Multilateral alliances will advocate for scalable projects and progressive policies. Open dialogues will lead to decisions that turn into concrete actions with measurable results.

Getting the world on board

Beyond convening participants from politics, business, science and civil society, the Hamburg Sustainability Conference supports the efforts of the United Nations by informing citizens locally and globally about the urgency of achieving the SDGs and inspiring them to contribute. This awareness aims to bring much-needed new hope regarding what the world is capable of when working better together.

Four people are seated at a conference table. Two out of the four people are looking at the woman in the center, who is speaking. © Adobe Stock / pressmaster

HSC Circles

Circle sessions connect leaders from the Global South and the Global North to debate and build alliances for changing political frameworks and improving policies to accelerate SDG implementation. Topics will be shaped jointly by partners from the Global South and the Global North from politics, business, civil society, science, and youth organizations. Potential topics are listed below.

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HSC Forums

Forum sessions focus on entrepreneurial approaches to achieving SDG goals with daring innovative and scalable solutions. Topics will be shaped jointly by partners from the Global South and the Global North from politics, business, civil society, science, and youth organizations. Potential topics are listed below.

Governance Architectures

Geopolitical challenges are affecting the actions of international institutions and their impact on national economies, leading to deficits and an urgent need for transformation. The HSC can connect stakeholders such as leaders from the UN, governments, and global finance to collaborate on reform proposals and new policies.

Sustainable Finance

The world must spend US-$7 trillion annually to meet the SDGs by 2030. Environmental, social and governance issues are now crucial when making investments, and there is great potential in green economic activities. At the HSC, representatives from governments, international financial institutions, the financial sector, and think tanks can develop incentives for sustainable finance.

Cities and Buildings

About 60% of the world's population live in cities, and the trend is rising. Which raw materials of the future, such as clay or bamboo, will make buildings more sustainable and adaptable to new climatic conditions? How can the building labor market be optimized? The HSC can address such questions to build strategies for smarter urban planning.

Food Security

The security of supply is lacking for staple foods such as rice and wheat as well as animal products. How can a transformation to organic agriculture succeed, while keeping yields and sales stable? How can we improve workers’ conditions and rights? The HSC can connect producers and buyers to work on solutions and binding commitments.

Mobility

Which value chains need to be rethought for sustainable mobility? Can alternative resources make the production of vehicles more environmentally friendly, efficient and cost-effective? What options will the future bring? In Mobility sessions, industry experts will examine these questions and develop practicable, realistic and measurable solutions.

Sustainable Lifestyle

Products such as furniture, home accessories and clothing have long been under scrutiny in terms of sustainability, from production to transport and shopping habits. What further measures can be taken to promote fairly-traded, sustainable products? Participants of Sustainable Lifestyle sessions will strategize to improve value chains and consumer behavior.

Initiators

The annual conference and its international satellites are a joint initiative of the United Nations (UNDP), the German Federal Government (BMZ), the Michael Otto Foundation and the City of Hamburg.

Associates

We work in association with the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).  

  • German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) Logo

    German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection

    www.bmuv.de/en/

  • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Logo

    Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

    www.giz.de/en/

  • German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Logo

    German Institute of Development and Sustainability

    www.idos-research.de/en/

Partners

If your organization is on a mission to advance sustainable development, please get in touch to find out how we can work together for a better future.

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