The deadline for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is fast approaching. To address this, the four Schools for Science and Society of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, will host the Groningen Sustainability Conference from 5 to 10 April 2027. During the event, over 400 participants across the world will engage in discussions about the future of the SDGs.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015 to achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on tackling poverty, inequality, injustice, and climate change by 2030. The 2030 deadline is drawing near: in September 2027, the UN will hold its final SDG Summit to evaluate progress and discuss the future of the development goals beyond 2030.
The goal of the Groningen Sustainability Conference is to reflect on the SDGs and contribute inputs for post-2030 plans, says Klaus Hubacek , director of the Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), which is co-organising the event alongside the Schools. ‘Together, we can shape the discussion on the post-2030 agenda,’ says Hubacek. ‘This is the moment to do so. During the conference in Groningen, we will formulate a core message for the final SDG Summit.’
The Groningen event is not a traditional academic conference. Instead, it will bring together representatives from civil society, policymakers, and business to discuss the future of the SDGs. This approach aligns with the University of Groningen as a fifth-generation university – one that houses all scientific disciplines and collaborates actively with partners from the business sector, as well as other knowledge institutions and government bodies.
The conference will feature a wide lineup of invited speakers and panelists. These include Anna Pot (National Coordinator for the SDGs), Astra Bonini (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs), Csaba Kőrösi (77th President of the UN General Assembly), and other leading experts from government, international organisations, and academia. The conference will focus on five central themes. The first theme is closely linked to the future of the SDGs. Additionally, the development goals will be discussed through four specific themes, each aligned with the four Schools for Science & Society.
The conference will begin with a programme tailored specifically for PhD candidates. The main programme will take place from 7 to 9 April, and on 10 April, a field trip will visit various locations in the Northern Netherlands where sustainability is put into practice. These visits will highlight the importance of a sustainable transition for the Groningen region.
The call for abstracts remains open until 25 October. Participants can register for the conference until 21 March 2027. More information is available on the Groningen Sustainability Conference 2027 website .