Umweltbundesamt
Click to enlargeAt the Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2024, the International Academy Transformation for Environment and Sustainability (TES Academy) at UBA, the Centre for International Postgraduate Studies of Environmental Management (CIPSEM) and the Global Diplomacy Lab showcased an innovative dialogue model for international collaboration on sustainability-related challenges.
The Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC 2024) gathered over 1,600 international participants on 07 and 08 October 2024, providing them a platform to bridge science, policy, and practice in addressing today’s most pressing sustainability challenges. Among the standout contributions was the session "Navigating Uncertainty: Diplomacy and Sustainability Actors Forging New Alliances", where the TES Academy of UBA, the Centre for International Postgraduate Studies of Environmental Management (CIPSEM), the Global Diplomacy Lab (GDL) and 17 international process participants showcased an innovative replicable dialogue model for sustainability-related challenges.
A 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, shared water resources, etc. Grounded in the principles of inclusivity, collaboration, and co-creation of sustainable solutions, the model is adaptable to different challenges. The partners brought together 20 experts from 16 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, including 16 CIPSEM alumni and 2 GDL members, forming a diverse community of practice. At the “Navigating Uncertainty” session at the HSC, these sustainability and diplomacy practitioners engaged in meaningful dialogue with partners from development organizations, research institutions, the private sector and foundations on how new alliances can rebuild trust and foster long-term collaboration.
What made this whole process particularly impactful was its collaborative approach. It fostered joint knowledge production and the development of a practical tool for implementations, 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, and co-create solutions for sustainability challenges.
Building on the insights from the process, the HSC session used an interactive format to continue the work on how collective efforts could drive changes toward a sustainable and equitable future. 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 ideas and mechanisms to model and spread successful practices. Additionally, participants examined what engaged actors need to take action on sustainability challenges, focusing on building resilience and agility. They also discussed how to approach less-engaged but relevant actors to form new alliances, exploring potential benefits and incentives.
Key insights from the session are:
The President of UBA, Prof. Dirk Messner, in his introduction to the context 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.
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 whole conference reaffirmed the value of joint knowledge production and transformative dialogue processes, essential for building a more sustainable and cooperative world. TES Academy, CIPSEM and GDL are proud to have been part of this pioneering effort and looks forward to tackle the challenges of sustainability with collaborative approaches.
For further information, please contact us at tes-academy [at] uba [dot] de.
The UBA’s motto, For our environment (“Für Mensch und Umwelt”), sums up our mission pretty well, we feel. In this video we give an insight into our work.
