We live in a world of parallel realities, where inequalities of income, gender, race, age, and geography divide and destabilise societies. But inequality is not inevitable. And it is not irreversible.
Together, we can make a choice: To hope, to act, and to create a future where no one is left behind.
At the 2025 Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC2025) on 2-3 June, around 1,600 participants from across the world chose to come together, forge new alliances and launch cross-sector initiatives to advance a sustainable future.
The UN SDG Action Campaign supported the conference by showcasing creative and inspiring content from its Parallel Realities Pavilion and open-source campaigns.
The HSC2025 launched several action-oriented initiatives and set the stage for continued momentum ahead of key milestones such as the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) from 30 June – 3 July 2025 in Sevilla, Spain.
Reflecting on the conference, Reem Alabadi-Radovan, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, explained that “Hamburg sends out a strong signal for solidarity and cooperation” and emphasized that “it is better for all of us if we pull together—instead of focusing solely on our own interests”.
A Focus on Reform and Transformation
Organized by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Michael Otto Foundation, and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, the key outcomes of the conference included:
The Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the Sustainable Development Goals
This landmark initiative is the first global declaration focused specifically on AI in international development and was endorsed by UNDP and BMZ, together with over 40 governments, private sector organizations, civil society, and leading research institutions. Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, highlighted that “our task now is to work together to ensure AI’s extraordinary capabilities drive sustainable development, benefiting everyone, everywhere, equally.”
The Global Alliance Against Inequality
This alliance was launched to tackle the systemic roots of inequality undermining social cohesion and democratic governance worldwide. It is supported by the governments of Czechia, Germany, Norway, and Sierra Leone, and co-sponsored by Oxfam International and the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies. During the launch, Niels Annen, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, stressed that “Germany is committed to playing an active role in ensuring that inequality remains high on the agenda”. Amitabh Behar, Executive Director at Oxfam International, also explained that the Alliance “can galvanize people’s movements and activists worldwide.”
The UN SDG Action Campaign’s Engagement at HSC2025
The UN SDG Action Campaign contributed to HSC2025 through creative content featured in the Networking Area of the Conference. This included a digital poster walk, which allowed participants to explore Parallel Realities, the UN SDG Action Campaign’s Pavilion at the 24th Triennale Milano International Exhibition on Inequalities. Through an immersive journey, attendees were invited to face today’s stark divides through the eyes of renowned Turkish artist Uğur Gallenkuş, explore the stories from UN SDG Action Awards changemakers transforming hope into action, and join the global community through the UN’s ACTNOW campaign.
In addition to the digital poster walk, several inspiring videos from the UN SDG Action Campaign’s open-source campaigns, including Flip the Script and Unite to Act, and past digital art exhibitions such as Hope in Action, were displayed at the HSC2025.
Looking Ahead
The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Sevilla will take forward the momentum from the 2025 Hamburg Sustainability Conference. Listen to the expert voices ahead of the Conference. Through committed action, we can turn division and inequality into cooperation and shared progress.
