China’s cross-cutting research on environment and development, which shapes its national policies toward an ecological civilization, as well as international cooperation in a world of interconnected environmental and development challenges will take center stage in the deliberations. Discussions will focus on innovation in global environmental governance; inclusive energy transition; sustainable production and consumption systems; and national green governance.

Negotiators at UNCCD COP 17 considered a wide array of decisions on enhancing efforts to address desertification, land degradation and drought.

The highlight of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference was the launch of the South-North Commission on Development, a new independent initiative to explore how international cooperation and multilateral institutions should evolve in an increasingly multipolar world.