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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
New global alliances, commitments for a sustainable future at Hamburg Sustainability Conference
BATHINDA: The Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) concluded its second edition, reinforcing its position as a vital global platform for advancing sustainable development. Around 1,600 participants from all across the world—including a notable number of high-level representatives from politics, international organizations, business, academia, and civil society—convened in Hamburg on June 2 and 3 to forge new alliances and accelerate progress toward the United Nations 2030 Agenda. HSC 2025 marked the launch of important initiatives and the achievement of new consensus, such as the agreement on the Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the SDGs. German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan: 'At a time when nationalist tendencies are jeopardising international cooperation, the Hamburg Sustainability Conference stands for the spirit of cooperation that binds the world together. Hamburg sends out a strong signal for solidarity and cooperation, an encouragement to us all. The conference has made progress on concrete solutions for some of the key challenges that we must face in the future: for cities of the future that will be liveable places for more and more people despite climate change, for the common fight against inequality or for artificial intelligence that benefits all people. First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher: 'The 17 Sustainable Development Goals aim to give 8 billion people worldwide a good life and a secure future, with access to education, health, participation, peace, security, and prosperity. Implementing this is a mandate and a great responsibility for the international community, because global developments can only be achieved through cooperation and joint efforts. ' UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner: 'The Hamburg Sustainability Conference is a moment to challenge conventional wisdom, redefine possibilities, and craft a new narrative—not one of division and decline, but of unity, cooperation, and collective progress. The Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the Sustainable Development Goals marks an important milestone in this journey. Initiated at this conference in 2024, this landmark declaration has just been endorsed by representatives from over 40 governments, private sector organizations, civil society, and leading research institutions. This outcome represents a crucial commitment to harnessing AI responsibly, ensuring it promotes equity, connect communities and addresses global inequalities. This collaboration does not end here. Our task now is to work together to ensure AI's extraordinary capabilities drive sustainable development, benefiting everyone, everywhere, equally.' Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Oto Group Michael Oto: 'Everyone has a role to play in tackling global challenges. At the same time, it is crucial that policymakers establish enabling frameworks and the scientific community drives innovation. The initiatives built upon since last year, together with the new alliances forged at HSC 2025, show that the conference brings the right stakeholders to the table—and that it's driving real impact. ' Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the SDGs: On Monday, UNDP and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development endorsed the Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the Sustainable Development Goals, together with over 40 governments, private sector organizations, civil society, and leading research institutions. The landmark initiative – the first global declaration focused specifically on AI in international development – outlines shared principles and commitments to promote the equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development and deployment of artificial intelligence worldwide, with particular emphasis on empowering developing countries. SCALED: Unlocking Private Investment for Sustainable Development: The members of the Hamburg Sustainability Platform (HSP) signed a joint declaration of intent, reaffirming their commitment to removing barriers to large-scale sustainable investment. Rebranded as 'SCALED – Scaling Capital for Sustainable Development,' the initiative brings together public and private institutions to enhance coordination. By the end of 2025, SCALED plans to launch a dedicated company to mobilize private capital more efficiently for projects such as solar farms or entrepreneurship support. It aims to help close financing gaps in developing countries and could unlock several billion USD in private capital over the coming years. Launch of the Global Alliance against Inequality: The Global Alliance against inequality, was officially launched. The coalition unites governments and partners in a bold effort to tackle the systemic roots of inequality undermining social cohesion and democratic governance worldwide. Germany and Sierra Leone, alongside the Pathfinders Initiative, signed the declaration of intent committing to evidence based policies that address economic and social disparities. The Alliance emphasizes crossregional collaboration, dialogue, and policy innovation to rebuild trust in public institutions and foster peaceful, just societies. Among the other notable agreements, signings, and announcements during HSC 2025 are the Memorandum of Understanding between the Deutsche Gesellschaf für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Euler Hermes to strengthen support for German exports and investments in developing and emerging countries within the framework of sustainable development; the new Biodiversity Fund of the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), with an initial capital of €500,000 aimed at supporting biodiversity conservation projects particularly within global textile supply chains; The addition of one new signatory to the Hamburg Declaration on Green Aviation, and two new signatories to the Hamburg Declaration on the Decarbonisation of Global Shipping — both initiated at HSC 2024; The Joint Statement of stakeholders across sectors on Enhancing Municipalities' Access to Private Capital; and the presentation of the concept for the 'Institute for Sustainability Arbitration' (ISA), which is envisioned as a specialized body dedicated to ensuring legal certainty in sustainability-related disputes through expert arbitration.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How will Germany's new government tackle climate issues?
Reem Alabali-Radovan (SPD), the new Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (AP) With the war in Ukraine, high energy prices and a flagging economy contending as the main focus points on Germany's political agenda in recent years, attention for the climate crisis has waned. Even as extreme weather events become more intense and more frequent, the rising temperatures they are connected to were barely mentioned in campaign speeches ahead of the country's February elections. As such, it has been unclear what the incoming coalition partners might do in terms of climate action. But now, after months of negotiations, the three ruling parties — the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CSU), their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) — are starting to set out their stalls. As part of their coalition agreementthey are committed to the target of climate neutrality by 2045. But Claudia Kemfert, an economist and energy expert at the German Institute of Economic Researc (DIW) says that overall and "unfortunately, environment and climate protection are not high priorities for the incoming government." Christoph Bals, chief policy officer at the environmental NGO Germanwatc, says it could be a difficult road ahead. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo "There are some parts of the government, some parts of the party, that when you hear them speak about climate policy, you get the impression they are not yet up to the challenge," he said. Germany's flagging economy versus climate Over the past four years, climate action was treated, at least in part, as an economic and international issue, officially taken under the wing of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action overseen by Green party politician Robert Habeck — with international policy largely led by the foreign ministry. But as part of the new government shuffle, domestic and international climate policy will now be moved back under the supervision of the environment ministry. It's a development with mixed consequences, said Kemfert. "On the one hand, it is good that climate protection is back in the environment ministry so that expertise can be pooled to tackle the challenges in this area," she told DW. "On the other hand, climate protection is also an economic task, and old conflicts between the environment and economy ministries threaten to resurface." Two years into a recession, the economy was a major focus during the election campaign, often pitted against climate-protection measures. The new chancellor Friedrich Merz made it clear that he would only wind down coal and gas power plants if it did not further endanger an already beleaguered industrial sector. Bals said moving responsibility for all climate policy back to the environment ministry, could see other ministries neglecting or even rejecting plans to deal with global warming. "Nearly all of them are in the hands of the conservative party, and so we now need a good strategy, so we don't always get this situation where the SPD suggests something in the climate policy arena and the conservative party is blocking it," he told DW. He stressed the need for measures that ensure climate is factored into broader decision-making. "The challenges ahead could not be greater. Whoever is responsible for the climate, environment, and biodiversity in the ministry is responsible for preserving our entire basis for life and the economy," said Jörg-Andreas Krüger, president of German conservation nonprofit NABU in a statement, adding that "nature conservation and climate protection belong at the heart of all policy areas." A new minister for environment and climate action In a decision met with surprise by some, SPD politician Carsten Schneide was announced as the minister responsible for environment, climate action, nature conservation and nuclear safety. Former government commissioner for Eastern Germany, Schneider is largely unknown in the environmental and climate sphere.
Zawya
11-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson met with H.E. Niels Annen, Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development
The Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. @ymahmoudali, met with H.E. Niels Annen, Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, to advance AU–Germany cooperation. Discussions focused on strengthening strategic partnerships, including Germany's valued support to the Africa CDC, peace and security initiatives, and regional integration efforts. The Chairperson commended Germany's commitment to both multilateral engagement through the AU&robust bilateral cooperation with AU Member States. They both reaffirmed the importance of AU–EU collaboration as a cornerstone of multilateralism, vital for promoting sustainable development, trade, and shared prosperity. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
