The Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC 2024) gathered over 1,600 global experts on 07 and 08 October 2024, providing a platform to bridge science, policy, and practice in addressing today’s most pressing environmental challenges. Among the standout contributions was the Accelerator Group session titled “Navigating Uncertainty: Diplomacy and Sustainability Actors Forging New Alliances,” where the Global Diplomacy Lab (GDL), CIPSEM, the TES Academy of the German Environment Agency (UBA) and 17 international process participants showcased a replicable dialogue model for local applications in sustainability-related issues.

This low-threshold dialogue model, developed and tested over the past seven months, was designed to foster collaboration among diverse actors working in sustainability related areas, including governance and leadership, climate change, and water diplomacy. Grounded in the principles of inclusivity, collaboration, and co-creation of sustainable solutions, the model is adaptable to different challenges. The process brought together 20 experts from 16 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, including 2 GDL Members, Rudrani Dasgupta & Stefan Cibian. At our “Navigating Uncertainty” session at HSC, these sustainability and diplomacy practitioners engaged in meaningful dialogue with partners from development organizations, research institutions, and foundations.

Collaborative Knowledge Production and Tool Development

What made this whole process particularly impactful was its collaborative approach. It promoted joint knowledge production and development of a practical tool for implementation, enabling participants to address root causes of challenges in real-world cases they themselves proposed. The aim was to understand and recommend approaches to overcoming barriers to local, regional and international cooperation in an increasingly uncertain world. This transformative learning process went beyond traditional formats, embracing diverse perspectives to reveal novel actors, new understandings of root causes to issues, and co-creation of solutions for sustainability challenges.

Building on insights from the process, the HSC session used an interactive approach to explore how collective efforts could drive changes toward a sustainable and equitable future, while identifying new alliances that rebuild trust and foster collaboration sustainably.

Key insights from the session: 

• Collaborative efforts among diverse international actors can lead to innovative interventions to address complex local, regional and global challenges.
• By engaging a diverse group of stakeholders, including CIPSEM alumni and GDL Members, the dialogue model uncovered novel actors and solutions that have the potential to create new patterns of cooperation.
• The process highlighted the importance of understanding local realities while maintaining a global perspective, fostering cooperation across borders and sectors.

President of the German Environment Agency, Prof. Dirk Messner’s Keynote

The president of the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA), Prof. Dirk Messner, gave a keynote presentation during the session. In his introduction, he emphasized the crucial role of peace and international collaboration in achieving sustainable development. He stressed that current global crises, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, are exacerbated by armed conflicts, making international cooperation more important than ever. Dirk Messner also highlighted the “cooperation hexagon” concept, which identifies key enablers of cooperation such as reciprocity, trust, communication, reputation, fairness, and a shared sense of identity (“we-identity”). These mechanisms are essential for fostering collaboration in uncertain times, and this session brought together practitioners from sustainability projects and experts from academia, development cooperation, and the private sector, fostering vibrant discussions on how to navigate the uncertainties of today’s environmental challenges.

One half of the session was dedicated to a collaborative exploration with all attendees: In a World Café format, participants explored key themes related to the further development of the dialogue model and potential use cases. Discussions centered on identifying barriers to inclusive dialogue and how to overcome them, as well as recognizing radical approaches and processes to model and spread successful practices. Additionally, participants examined what engaged actors need to act on sustainability challenges, focusing on building resilience and agility. They also discussed how to approach unknowingly but relevant actors to forge new alliances and explore potential benefits and incentives.

Global Leadership and Notable Contributions

Notable figures at HSC2024 included UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, alongside heads of state from nations such as Barbados, Namibia, and Armenia. With their statements they emphasized the global commitment to accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Hamburg Sustainability Conference has set a new benchmark for international collaboration in sustainability. The event has demonstrated the power of collective action in addressing today’s critical environmental challenges. Together, GDL, TUD Dresden University of Technology (CIPSEM, the ABCD-Centre), TES Academy, and our global partners highlighted the importance of co-creation and inclusivity, laying the groundwork for new alliances that bridge diverse sectors and regions.

GDL, TES Academy, and CIPSEM are proud to have been part of this pioneering effort and look forward to furthering these collaborative approaches to tackle the challenges of sustainability efforts. The event reaffirmed the value of joint knowledge production and transformative dialogue processes, essential for building a more sustainable and cooperative world.

Photos: ©Hamburg Sustainability Conference