High-Level Convenings in Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany – June 5, 2025
In a landmark series of high-level events held prior to and alongside the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC), the Climate Governance Commission as part of its chairship of The New Institute’s Planetary Governance Program, together with Mobilizing an Earth Governance Alliance (MEGA) convened leading scientists, policymakers, and governance experts to address the mounting challenges posed by Earth system destabilization,
The program of events commenced on June 1 with an early-morning workshop co-convened with leading Earth system scientist Professor David Obura to discuss the need for and solutions to drive forward the finance/economic transformations necessary to address Earth system risks. The workshop, which featured participation from leading climate and nature finance academics, experts and private sector leaders agreed to follow up on their discussion through the exploration of the establishment of working groups and subsequent meetings to drive forward identified finance solutions.
The program continued with a closed-door workshop held with leading academics and policymakers, including representatives of the Brazil COP30 Team on the theme of “Understanding Macro Earth System Risks and Responses to Safeguard Sustainable Development and Human Flourishing,” which brought together international partners and key government representatives to deliberate on concrete proposals for strengthening global governance. The session focused on the latest Earth system science, including the destabilization of critical Earth system Planetary Boundaries, and discussed the imperative for institutional innovations that can monitor, assess, and mitigate global Earth system risks. The workshop provided an opportunity to relay the latest global governance reform proposals directly to the decision-makers, offering new pathways for further implementation of these proposals in the near future. This private session was followed by a public-facing evening panel, where attendees engaged in a robust discussion on transformative policy solutions. Among the proposals of the Commission explored in the workshops were the enhancement of international Earth system risk monitoring capacity, the potential establishment of a Planetary Emergency Platform, the development of a Global Climate and Nature Policy Innovation Hub, and “Next-Generation” governance reform proposals, including the development of a Global Environment Agency and International Environmental Court. The panel emphasized the interconnectedness of climate, biodiversity, and geopolitical stability and concluded with a Q&A and networking dinner reception.
On June 2 and 3, the CGC hosted two “Solution Pitch” sessions as part of the official HSC program. Co-convened by Maja Groff, Chair of the Planetary Governance Program, and Donvoan Dennis, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Postdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the pitches focused on the theme “Managing Earth System Risks – Solutions for Sustainable Human Flourishing.” These high-impact sessions were followed by concise Q&A discussions and drew broad interest from conference attendees, including government delegates, civil society leaders, and academic experts. Each pitch highlighted both the critical nature of Earth system risks—such as climate tipping points, —and the institutional responses required to address them. The presenters argued that current governance frameworks are not yet sufficiently equipped to respond to non-linear, cascading global crises, and made the case for strengthening planetary-scale institutions and networks that are both anticipatory and responsive.
The CGC’s presence in Hamburg culminated on June 4 and June 5 with a pivotal in-person/hybrid meeting of the full Commission, marking the first such in-person gathering since the body entered its implementation phase. Held at The New Institute, the meeting reflected a strong commitment to accelerating the momentum behind the Commission’s priority proposals and further deepening engagement with high-level stakeholders. The Commission reviewed recent achievements and ongoing workstreams, including the forging of strategic alliances, the amplification of its messaging across international platforms, and the growing endorsement of its recommendations by influential figures in governance, science, and the private sector. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reflecting on the global context in 2025—a year marked by heightened climate impacts, geopolitical tension and a renewed appetite for systemic reform among certain leaders in the global governance community. Commissioners provided input on a forthcoming update to the Commission’s 2023 flagship report and identified means and methods to seize the initiative amidst broader efforts to ensure the multilateral system takes account of new geopolitical realities. Discussions also continued with the Brazil COP 30 Team, who participated in the meetings and actively engaged with the Commission's proposals, and shared synergistic proposals championed by Brazil. The Commission agreed to work with the COP30 team and other partners on advancing the governance reform agenda, which will continue with a further convening of the Commission in late June at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Italy on “Governing Our Planetary Emergency: Charting our Path Toward Effective Earth System Governance,” followed by an additional meeting with UNU-CPR, the Brazil COP30 team and others in late July to present the outcomes of the Bellagio convening.
The meeting concluded with an internal event between the Commission and The New Institute which saw members of the Commission engage with The New Institute’s Fellows on the work of the Commission and the path forward for planetary governance reform.
The events in Hamburg marked not only a critical milestone for the Climate Governance Commission’s implementation agenda but also reinforced its position as a key convening site for forward-thinking global governance discourse coupled with the development of implementation pathways which will be built upon in the coming weeks and months.
