President Steinmeier Opens Hamburg Sustainability Conference, Calls for Global Cooperation
Hamburg, June 29, 2026 – German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier officially opened the third Hamburg Sustainability Conference on Monday, June 29, 2026. In his keynote address, Steinmeier issued a stark warning about a “new world disorder” and passionately advocated for increased global collaboration to tackle pressing issues such as climate change, hunger, and poverty.
The conference, which brings together approximately 1,600 participants from 115 countries, aims to foster better and more sustainable cooperation between wealthy and less prosperous nations. The opening remarks set a serious tone, highlighting the urgent need for collective action in an increasingly fragmented world.
Steinmeier Warns Against “Raw Power Politics”
During his speech, President Steinmeier articulated his concerns about the current state of international relations. “Raw power politics, zero-sum thinking, and confrontation are unfortunately increasingly replacing the pillars of a cooperative and rules-based order,” Steinmeier stated. He described a “zeitgeist of brutality and ruthlessness” pervading global politics, underscoring the fragility of existing international frameworks.
Steinmeier stressed that Germany and the vast majority of nations cannot thrive in a world devoid of rules. He emphasized the critical importance of nurturing, deepening, and expanding existing partnerships, particularly in development cooperation. Global challenges, he argued, are insurmountable without international collaboration and mutual trust. As a contemporary example of global vulnerability, Steinmeier cited the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which dramatically illustrated the world’s reliance on free trade routes, secure sea lanes, and functioning supply chains.
1,600 Participants Seek Concrete Solutions
The Hamburg Sustainability Conference serves as a crucial platform for bringing people together to devise shared solutions amidst global divisions and tensions. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, referred to the current situation as a “tsunami of political crises,” urging participants to collectively resist it. Reem Alabali Radovan (SPD), Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, echoed this sentiment, asserting that more cooperation, not less, is essential.
The diverse group of attendees includes high-ranking representatives from politics and business, as well as numerous civil society projects. Over two days, they will engage in discussions to address global problems and develop concrete solutions. German software giant SAP is actively participating, collaborating with international partners to tackle the skilled labor shortage. To this end, SAP and the World Bank Group signed a declaration on Monday afternoon.
Climate Protection and AI on the Agenda
Many sessions will focus on how companies can become more climate-friendly, alongside discussions on the application of Artificial Intelligence. The organizers, including the Michael Otto Foundation, the City of Hamburg, the Federal Government, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), emphasize that international exchange benefits everyone. Michael Otto, a mail-order entrepreneur, promised that the conference would be about action, not just talk. On Tuesday, the Federal Government’s new North-South Commission will officially commence its work in Hamburg, co-chaired by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Laura Chinchilla, the former President of Costa Rica.
Global Survey Highlights Key Priorities
In preparation for the conference, the UNDP surveyed individuals in 15 countries to identify future priorities. The top three results were accelerating the energy transition, protecting nature, and improving access to financing. Migration and the skilled labor shortage are also prominent on the agenda, as is the question of how to better recycle old clothes to prevent them from ending up in landfills on the African continent.
In a significant development, Hamburg signed an agreement with the small island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis on Monday afternoon. The city and the Caribbean state will exchange expertise on climate change, and a young man from St. Kitts and Nevis will undertake an apprenticeship with Hamburg’s city cleaning department.
Hamburg Sustainability Week: Engaging the Local Community
Running concurrently with the conference is the Hamburg Sustainability Week. This parallel event, featuring various activities and participatory initiatives, is designed to directly engage Hamburg residents. Its goal is to transform the city into a more sustainable and livable place, aligning with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Topics include how to design food systems, housing, and mobility in ways that benefit both people and nature. With city tours, discussions, films, workshops, and a sustainability workshop, all Hamburg residents are invited to participate.
Source: NDR.de
