The Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) is a new global sustainability platform for leading minds from politics, business, science, civil society, and multilateral organisations. In times of increasing geopolitical crises, the HSC as an independent platform aims to facilitate new alliances, promote a partnership-based exchange between representatives from leading economies and emerging societies and empower the private sector to contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference offers a new high-level format that serves as a stepping stone to jointly develop solutions for the necessary socio-ecological transformation. The first HSC took place on October 7-8, 2024 in the Hamburg City Hall and the Chamber of Commerce.
The world needs new momentum on the way to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Global crises and conflicts of interest slow down their implementation with people in developing countries and emerging societies carrying the main burden. To reach the goals faster in an increasingly difficult environment there needs to be a space for trusting dialogue and partnership-based collaboration. With the message of new hope, the Hamburg Sustainability Conference acts as a crucial link between political summits, private sector and civil society.
The Hamburg Sustainability Conference is an initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Michael Otto Foundation and the City of Hamburg. The operational organizer of the conference is the non-for-profit company Hamburg Sustainability Conference gGmbH.
The HSC program is developed in co-creation with partners and sustainability leaders from all sectors. The conference agenda consists of three central forums, Reshaping International Financial Architecture, Unleashing Investments for SDGs and Leveraging Transformation and five Hubs with SDG-based topics that change annually. The HSC 2025 hubs are Future Cities, Green Logistics and Mobility, Retaining Biodiversity, Responsible AI and Digitization, Sustainability in Times of Crisis and Fragility and Health. The conference program table discussions, expert talks, business presentations, pitches, workshops and more.
The conference aims to encourage new partnerships and empower the private sector for SDG commitment. Global decision-makers from politics, business, science, and civil society will mutually work towards political breakthroughs and introduce new solutions ready to be implemented and scaled within the planetary boundaries. Multilateral alliances will advocate for scalable projects and progressive policies. The Hamburg Sustainability Conference is driven by the vision that socio-ecological transformation requires interdisciplinary and trustful collaboration among the international community.
Around 800 international guests are expected at the HSC. High-ranking state and government representatives, decision-makers from business, science, civil society, multilateral organizations and media representatives from leading economies, emerging markets and developing economies are invited to attend. The conference will have a public side program around Hamburg for city residents and guests. Please mind that the HSC is an invite-only event. Self-registration for the conference is not possible.
The Hamburg Sustainability Conference aims to provide a space that enables new action-oriented sustainability alliances and a trusting dialog between political decision-makers, private sector leaders and representatives from academia and civil society. The aim is to jointly develop solutions for the necessary socio-ecological transformation and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
After the 2024 conference, further events are planned for 2025 and 2026. The Hamburg Sustainability Conference does not see itself as a one-time event, but as a process with numerous activities during the year to ensure a sustainable impact worldwide.
A comprehensive sustainability concept is being drawn up for the Hamburg Sustainability Conference. This will be aligned with the ISO standard for sustainable events to ensure that the sustainability of the conference is verified and evaluated by an external body.