The Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2024, held from the 7th to the 8th of October brought together global experts, policymakers, and business leaders to discuss solutions to environmental challenges, focusing on climate resilience, renewable energy, and sustainable urban development.
Over two days, around 1,600 delegates convened in the historic Hanseatic city to form new partnerships for tangible advancements in sustainability. With more than 15 agreements signed, governments, businesses, scientific institutions, and civil society organizations are joining forces to revitalize progress towards the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The conference was opened by German Bundeskanzler, Olaf Scholz, Hamburg's First Mayor, Peter Tschentscher and Achim Steiner, the head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
Key Highlights of the Conference included:
- Sessions on Green Hydrogen highlighted Hamburg’s pivotal role in renewable energy, with Jorg Müller, CEO of the German Hydrogen Association.
- Discussions on Circular Economy underlined the importance of reducing waste, with Prof. Claudia Kemfert, DIW Berlin, calling for a rethink of consumption and production models.
- Corporate leaders stressed Sustainable Business Practices, with Christian Klein, CEO of SAP, advocating for sustainability to be embedded in business strategies.
The conference concluded with commitments to new public-private partnerships, advancing renewable energy projects, and updating Hamburg’s sustainability goals to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035.
The Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2024 reaffirmed Hamburg's dedication to environmental leadership and set the stage for future collaborations in sustainability initiatives.
