HSC Future Economy Day

June 4, 2025 in the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

Blueprints for a Better Economy

The HSC Future Economy Day (FED) built directly on the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, placing business leadership at the core of economic transformation. Designed by business for business, FED convened finance, manufacturing, industry, and trade leaders to tackle barriers and present solutions already in motion.

The day delivered concrete outcomes: commitments to expand sustainable financing, industry pledges to accelerate decarbonization, and new partnerships linking trade with sustainability standards. With participation from politics, civil society, and academia, FED ensured that private-sector initiatives connected with broader regulatory and scientific frameworks.

Co-organized by International Chamber of Commerce in Germany (ICC Germany), DZ Bank, and the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, and supported by UNECE, Climate Champions, econsense, and the Hamburg Sustainability Conference gGmbH, FED advanced HSC Mission Goal 1: Activate the private sector for SDG commitment. More than discussion, it generated alliances and scalable models that extend the impact of HSC into the global economy.

FED Program Download

HSC Future Economy Day Program 2025

Three Panels, Three Sessions

Panel and Solution Session 1
Mobilising Finance for the Transition to the Future Economy

Photo: Katie Jurischka

Mobilising Finance for the Transition to the Future Economy

Achieving a sustainable and resilient global economy requires massive investments—and the Finance sessions at the Future Economy Day demonstrated how such capital can be mobilized at scale. Co-organized by the Climate Champions, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and DZ Bank, the discussions built on the momentum of earlier European Regional Finance Forums in Geneva (2022), Frankfurt (2023), and Hamburg (2024).

The sessions emphasized pragmatic solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation. A high-level panel examined pathways to localize transition finance, de-risk investment flows, and deepen capital markets to accelerate technological innovation. In parallel, a solutions session showcased transformative climate-smart projects from the Western Balkans, Central Asia, and Europe, illustrating how innovative financial structures are already contributing to regional sustainability and climate resilience.
Panel and Solution Session 2
Decarbonizing Energy-Intensive Industries: Strategies and Solutions in the Face of Geopolitical Challenges

Photo: Katie Jurischka

Decarbonizing Energy-Intensive Industries: Strategies and Solutions in the Face of Geopolitical Challenges

The transition toward decarbonized production is imperative for meeting international climate goals and advancing the SDGs. At the Future Economy Day, the Manufacturing & Industry sessions focused on energy-intensive sectors such as steel, cement, and chemicals—industries that both drive global emissions and underpin value chains from construction to mobility and renewable energy.

A high-level panel identified the major policy, technology, and structural barriers slowing the transition. Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and rising protectionism, participants examined how to maintain resilience while accelerating decarbonization.

The accompanying solutions session highlighted practical pathways now being deployed: renewable energy integration, circular economy approaches, sustainable transport, workforce mobilization, AI-enabled efficiency, carbon capture and storage, and policy innovations. Together, these examples demonstrated that even in a complex global environment, scalable solutions for sustainable industrial transformation are already emerging.
Panel and Solution Session 3
Trust as a Key Factor How International Carbon Markets Can Contribute to Climate Protection

Photo: Katie Jurischka

Trust as a Key Factor How International Carbon Markets Can Contribute to Climate Protection

International carbon markets—whether under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement or voluntary credit systems—were highlighted at the Future Economy Day as key instruments for financing green technologies and advancing decarbonization. Speakers stressed, however, that their effectiveness hinges on ecological and social integrity, both of which have been undermined in recent years.

In a high-level panel, experts discussed standards and safeguards needed to restore trust, ensure transparency, and strengthen the markets’ contribution to global climate protection. The solutions session presented innovative models and practical examples from diverse market actors, illustrating how enhanced governance, robust verification, and cross-border cooperation can increase the efficiency and credibility of international carbon markets.