Groningen Sustainability Conference 2027
Lessons from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
April 05 –10, 2027
Zernike Campus, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Accelerating Sustainable Development by 2030 and beyond
As the world approaches 2030, attention is increasingly turning towards how sustainable development can be accelerated in the remaining years of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while laying the foundations for what comes next. GSC 2027 provides a global platform for researchers, policy and governance, the private sector, and civil society to reflect on lessons learned from the SDGs and contribute to the future beyond 2030. Alongside reflection on the SDGs, the conference will engage with the major transformations shaping sustainable futures beyond 2030, including resilient societies, climate action, health and well-being, and the opportunities and risks of AI and digitalization.
Why Groningen?
Groningen is for those who go further. Located in the northern Netherlands, the city combines an international university, a strong culture of innovation, and a region undergoing major sustainability transitions. Groningen is investing in renewable energy, hydrogen, circular innovation, sustainable mobility, and healthier urban living. The city has set an ambitious goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2035, making it a relevant setting for discussing how long-term goals can be translated into concrete local action. The University of Groningen strengthens this setting through interdisciplinary research, education, and partnerships on sustainability science, energy transitions, health and well-being, digitalization, and governance. Many of the conference themes are therefore not only topics of debate but part of ongoing research, policy, and practice.
Conference Objectives
The conference takes place at a pivotal moment. In 2027, the United Nations will hold its final SDG Summit, as it increasingly turns its attention to the shape of future sustainability agendas. GSC 2027 offers an opportunity to contribute ideas, evidence, and partnerships to that wider process, while also helping accelerate action in the remaining years of the SDGs.
The specific objectives of our conference are threefold: conference are threefold:
- To bring together various stakeholders to discuss their lessons from the SDGs and share ideas for sustainable development by and beyond 2030.
- To build and foster stakeholder collaboration to prepare for the 2027 final SDG summit and beyond.
- To develop the Groningen action points as an input for the 2027 final SDG summit and the post-2030 process.
Five Themes Shaping the Future
GSC 2027 comprises five broader themes. Its plenary and parallel sessions will address these themes with a diverse geographical focus spanning local, national, regional, and global scales. We invite submissions of abstracts and sessions related to these themes and provided keywords.
Theme 1. Lessons from the Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable development beyond 2030
Under this theme, we seek contributions that critically assess what has and has not worked during the SDG era, identify lessons learned, and explore how these insights can shape the design, governance, monitoring, and implementation of a more effective, science-based, inclusive, and action-oriented sustainable development agenda beyond 2030.
1.1 National and local implementation of SDGs, including barriers and opportunities
Keywords: policy implementation; SDG localization; national and subnational strategies; institutional capacity; policy coherence; financing; monitoring progress; implementation gaps; enabling conditions; best practices; Voluntary National and Local Reviews
1.2 Lessons learned from SDG governance and multi-stakeholder partnerships
Keywords: multi-level governance; public-private partnerships; science-policy interfaces; stakeholder co-creation; institutional arrangements; collaborative governance; accountability; coordination mechanisms; capacity building; governance innovation,
1.3 Integrated sustainability assessment of progress made on the SDGs
Keywords: systems thinking, prioritization methods; analysis of synergies and trade-offs, integrated assessment models; sustainability indicators; scenario analysis and modeling approaches; SDG tools for communication, education, progress monitoring
1.4 Missing links and reforms for a sustainable development agenda beyond 2030
Keywords: emerging sustainability priorities; institutional and governance reforms, sustainability issues beyond the SDGs, e.g., air quality, resilience, peace, culture & language, animals, and others; future sustainability priorities; redesign of global goals
1.5 Methods and processes for a sustainable development agenda beyond 2030
Keywords: Co-design of future agendas; science-based target-setting; indicator development; multi-stakeholder participatory processes; science-policy dialogue; negotiation; adaptive governance; institutional innovation; agenda-setting
Theme 2. Building resilience through integrated sustainable transformation across natural and human systems
Under this theme, we explore how integrated transformations across natural, social, economic, urban, and technological systems can strengthen resilience and accelerate sustainable development. We invite contributions that advance integrated approaches across these systems and implementation at scales ranging from local to global.
2.1 Ensuring food, water, and energy security and understanding their nexus
Keywords: nexus approaches; sustainable resource management; food system transformation; energy transition; water footprints; smart grids; sustainable fuels
2.2 Sustainable landscape and seascape for nature’s contribution to people
Keywords: biodiversity, ecosystem services; biosphere integrity; nature-based solutions, landscape management; marine management; fisheries, natural capital accounting
2.3 Roles of equity & justice for sustainable transformation and resilience
Keywords: different types of justice; just transitions; social equity; Leave No One Behind; Indigenous Peoples and local communities; social vulnerability; community resilience
2.4 Measures for urban transformation, including sustainable mobility
Keywords: urban planning; climate-smart cities; green/blue infrastructure; sustainable housing; bio-based construction; urban metabolism; sustainable mobility
2.5 Economic approaches beyond GDP, including circularity and bioeconomy
Keywords: production and consumption; industrial symbiosis; value chains; business models; green growth; alternative metrics; life-cycle assessment; material efficiency
Theme 3. Leveraging climate change and development nexus for just and equitable transformation
Under this theme, we address the climate-development nexus accounting for climate impacts, adaptation, and mitigation. We invite contributions that advance understanding of this nexus across socio-economic dimensions (finance, governance, policy, migration, and justice) and environmental/land-use dynamics (agriculture, forestry, oceans, and land cover).
3.1 Modeling Earth system interactions, including climate impacts on development
Keywords: biosphere feedback; tipping points; carbon cycles; biogeochemical modeling; carbon cycle modeling; ecological modeling; climate impacts; vulnerability; disaster risk
3.2 Actions for climate change adaptation to build societal resilience
Keywords: climate proofing; maladaptation; early warning; limits to adaptation; National Climate Adaptation Strategy; National Adaptation Programme of Action
3.3 Climate change mitigation and net-zero pathways for a just transition
Keywords: decarbonization; carbon tax and price; low-carbon technologies; mitigation scenarios; Integrated Assessment Models; Nationally Determined Contributions
3.4 Understanding climate change and climate actions for human security
Keywords: resource conflicts; geopolitical instability; transboundary climate risks; climate-induced migration; human mobility; equity and justice
3.5 Climate governance, finance, and negotiation for sustainable development
Keywords: local/city/regional/community-based climate action, multilevel governance, Loss and Damage Fund, climate finance, macroeconomic modeling, climate-economic modeling
Theme 4. Health, well-being, and societal foundations as key drivers of sustainable development
Under this theme, we follow the pathway from understanding health systems, identifying environmental and societal health risks, and developing innovative solutions to ensuring equitable health outcomes and embedding health across the broader sustainability agenda. We invite contributions that address this pathway across local, national, and global scales
4.1 System perspective for addressing one health nexus within ecological ceilings
Keywords: interactions between human, animal, and planetary health; biodiversity and health; climate-health interactions; environmental determinants of disease
4.2 Environmental health and emerging pollutants, including regulatory and governance responses, and policy translation of exposure science
Keywords: Health impacts of emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS, microplastics, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, pharmaceuticals; exposure pathways; biomonitoring; vulnerable populations; reproductive and developmental exposure windows
4.3 Developing solutions and innovations for healthier societies
Keywords: health risk assessment; novel materials/chemicals; predictive (in vitro, in vivo, human) models; new materials; biotechnology; toxicological; postmenopausal women; therapeutic targets; environmental remediation; novel monitoring approaches
4.4 Health equity, well-being, inner development, and societal foundations as societal outcomes
Keywords: health inequalities; environmental justice; population health; healthy aging; well-being determinants; inner development; population system modeling
4.5 Health as both an outcome and driver of sustainable development
Keywords: SDG and health interactions, including climate, food systems, cities, education, clean energy, inequality, responsible innovation, governance, and a post-2030 agenda
Theme 5. Artificial Intelligence, big data, and digitalization as enablers for sustainable development
Under this theme, we explore the multiple roles of AI, big data, and digitalization, from advancing analytical methods and supporting implementation to informing decision-making and shaping sustainability agendas beyond 2030. We invite contributions that critically examine both the opportunities and the challenges associated with these roles.
5.1 Advances in AI methods, big data, and digital technologies for sustainability analytics
Keywords: machine learning; Earth observation; digital twins; large-scale data integration; AI-based forecasting, monitoring, and modeling; sustainability analytics
5.2 AI as an enabling technology for understanding sustainable development and twin transition
Keywords: Applications of AI across sectors (e.g., climate, biodiversity, food, water, energy, cities, health, transport, etc.); twin green and digital transition
5.3 AI and big data for decision-making and sustainable governance as a supporting decision tool
Keywords: AI-assisted governance across public and private sectors; digital governance; Environmental, Social, and Governance policy auditing; Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive compliance validation; policy-making models
5.4 Trustworthy AI, information integrity, data autonomy, and sustainability impacts of AI
Keywords: Responsible and ethical AI; transparency; explainability; accountability; fairness; privacy; cybersecurity; data governance; data autonomy; AI spillover effects; [
5.5 AI, big data, and digitalization for sustainable development by and beyond 2030, including opportunities and challenges
Keywords: emerging governance frameworks; international cooperation; new institutional arrangements; responsible innovation; opportunities; risks; barriers
Important Dates
All deadlines at 23:59. Subject to change.
24.08.2026
Abstract submission (Open)25.10.2026
Abstract submission (deadline)12.12.2026
Conference registration (early bird)18.01.2027
Conference registration (regular)07.03.2027
Registration deadline: (Presenters)21.03.2027
Registration deadline: (Participants)Conference Program
All deadlines at 23:59 subject to change.
05-06.04.2027
PhD Days07-09.04.2027
Main conference10.04.2027
Field tourInvited Speakers & Panelist
(to be confirmed and updated)
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis: Director General
Chinese Academy of Sciences Aerospace Information Research Institute & International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals: Director General
Call for Abstracts and Sessions
We invite researchers, policymakers, civil society organizations, and industry leaders to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations and session proposals for the Groningen Sustainability Conference 2027 (GSC 2027). We welcome theoretical, empirical, practice-based, and policy-oriented submissions that translate scientific evidence into actionable sustainability pathways.
Submission Guidelines
-
- Abstract: 300 words maximum, plain text. No references, figures, tables, or HTML. Structure it in four parts: objective, methods, key results, conclusions, and relevance to sustainable development by and beyond 2030.
- Title: 20 words maximum, sentence case, no unexplained acronyms. Printed exactly as entered.
- Topic: TSelect one. See the Conference Themes page
- Keywords: 3 to 5, comma-separated, preferably from the published list for your topic.
- Authors Full name, e-mail, and affiliation (department, institution, city, country) for everyone listed. No placeholders. All must have agreed to be named.
- One presenting author per contribution; a person may present a maximum of two contributions. No limit on co-authorship.
- Registration is separate from acceptance. Presenting authors, (co-)chairs, and contributors must register by [7th March 2027] or the contribution is withdrawn.
- English only, original work not published or presented elsewhere in identical form. Accepted abstracts are published in the book of abstracts.
Additional requirements for the two session formats
-
- Session Proposal:The 300-word abstract describes the session as a whole, including co-chairs and separate abstracts for 4-6 papers. Each of these papers needs its own title, author list, and 300-word abstract. Papers should come from at least two institutions.
- Innovative Session: The 300-word abstract describes the interactive format, what participants will do and the intended outcomes. The submission requires listing at least one co-chair and four presenters.
Registration Fees
| Standard Ticket: | € 350.00 |
| Concession Ticket* | € 300.00 |
| Standard Ticket: | € 400.00 |
| Concession Ticket* | € 350.00 |
*Only for students enrolled in master’s and PhD programs and participants from low- and middle-income countries.
Steering Committee
(to be updated)
Bart Bossink
United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network Netherlands & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
Bart Verheij
University of Groningen, Netherlands
Erle Ellis
University of Maryland, United States
Frank Biermann
International Panel on Earth System Governance & Utrecht University, Netherlands)
Frans J. Sijtsma
University of Groningen, Netherlands
Frederic van Kleef
University of Groningen, Netherlands
Hermann Lotze-Campen
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany
Klaus Hubacek
University of Groningen, Netherlands
Lorenzo Squintani
University of Groningen, Netherlands
Manda Broekhuis
University of Groningen, Netherlands
Martina Schmidt
University of Groningen, Netherlands
Ming Cao
University of Groningen, Netherlands
Schelto Kruijff
University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands
Shobhakar Dhakal
Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Scientific Committee
(to be confirmed and updated)
Amalia Dolga
Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Netherlands
Anand Kumar
School of Management Studies, Nalanda University, India
Arpan Rijal
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Groningen, Netherlands
Barbro Melgert
Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Netherlands
Christina Prell
Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen, Netherlands
Dinesh Raj Bhuju
Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology & Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Nepal
Eugenia Rosca
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Groningen, Netherlands
Gabriel Blanco
Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
George Azzopardi
Bernoulli Institute, University of Groningen, Netherlands
Gorazd Andrejc
Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society, University of Groningen, Netherlands
Iva Pesa
Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen, Netherlands
Jampel Dell’Angelo
Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
Junze Zhang
Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Maheswar Rupakheti
IPCC Working Group I Vice-Chair & Research Institute for Sustainability at GFZ, Germany
Malcolm Campbell-Verduyn
Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen, Netherlands
Min Chen
School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, China
Minmin Wang
China Center for Health Development Studies, Peking University, China
Paul Upham
Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen
Philipp Pattberg
Department of Environmental Policy Analysis & Amsterdam Sustainability Institute, Netherlands
Rob van Poelje
SDG Netherlands Foundation
Roeland Hemsteede
Workstream Lead for Climate and Environment, IOD PARC, United Kingdom
Samir KC
Multidimensional Demographic Modeling Research Group, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria
Xin Sun
Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen
Yubao Qiu
International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Organization Committee
Alejandro Zabala Figueroa
Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen
Anja Robbeson
Schools for Science & Society, University of Groningen
Astrid Bakker
Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development, University of Groningen
Caterina Marinetti
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education & Research School for Socio-Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment
Gabriel Olewe
Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen
Gabriela Matouskova
Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, University of Groningen
Irene Maltagliati
Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development, University of Groningen
Jing Li
Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen
Sita Dijkstra
Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, University of Groningen
Teun Kluck
Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen
Utkarsh Khot
Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen, University of Groningen
Wouter Olland
Groningen Conventions
Conference Secretariat
Prajal Pradhan
Chair
Wanli Zheng
Organizational Lead
Anne Warchold
Secretary
Frederika Cazemier
Logistic Lead
Ponraj Arumugam
Scientific Lead
Saurav Dhakal
Communication Lead
Lisa H. Halvorsen
Conference Assistant
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