The former Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Achim Steiner, has been appointed as Chair of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC). 

This decision was made by the HSC Council at its meeting today.

At the same time, Mr. Steiner will serve as Chair of the HSC Council. Isabel de Saint Malo and Juliana Rotich were both confirmed as Vice Chairs, and Jochen Flasbarth as a member of the HSC Council.

The four initiators of the Conference hold permanent seats on the HSC Council.

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Achim Steiner served for eight years as Administrator of UNDP, holding the third-highest position within the United Nations system.

Until June 2025, he played a central role in shaping international efforts towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in this capacity.

Prior to that he headed the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) among other roles.

Achim Steiner has been a strong supporter of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference from the very beginning and already has been a member of the HSC Council in his role as UNDP Administrator.

As Chair of the HSC, he will represent the HSC internationally and guide its strategic development to further strengthen its reach and impact.

Achim Steiner: "In a time of growing geopolitical tensions, we need new trust, new alliances, and new approaches to international cooperation. Across borders and differences, HSC brings together leaders from all sectors and regions of the world to foster forward-looking dialogue and partnerships that make a real contribution to sustainable development. Its mission is ambitious, but as Chair of the HSC, I am delighted to be able to contribute to creating new momentum and initiatives for the future with this global platform."