On 21–22 May, Göteborg & Co will organise a conference together with the UN Office for Partnerships, Göteborgsvarvet and the Centre for Tourism at the University of Gothenburg, following Gothenburg’s designation as a UN Hub for Sustainability. Gothenburg Sustainable Events Conference explores the question: How can local action accelerate solutions to global challenges?

Over two half-days on 21–22 May, local and international speakers and participants will gather at the Gothenburg Sustainable Events Conference to exchange experiences and gain new perspectives and ideas on the theme of sustainable events.

Strong international participation
The programme features representatives from the United Nations Office for Partnerships, as well as international speakers including Jukka Punamäki from Helsinki Tourism and Destination Management, Rikke Holm Petersen from Wonderful Copenhagen, Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu from UN Climate Change, and Daniel Calarco from the Rio Carnival.

 The conference will be inaugurated by Jonas Attenius, Mayor of Gothenburg. The programme also includes representatives from some of Gothenburg’s major events: Elin Bondemark from Göteborgsvarvet, and Fredrik Andersson representing both Partille World Cup and Gothia Cup. From the Centre for Tourism at the School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Erik Lundberg and Tommy D Andersson will present on the topic Science of Impact: How Events Will Drive the Future of Sustainability.

Local solutions to global challenges
At the end of 2025, Gothenburg became a UN Sustainable Lifestyle Hub, and the conference marks the launch of this mission. The United Nations aims to hightligt local solutions to global challenges, and Gothenburg was selected because of its long-term and strategic work on sustainability.

During 2026 and 2027, the hub will be used as a platform to inspire locally, nationally and internationally, and to create and strengthen collaborations focused on tourism, meetings, events and destination development. Gothenburg is currently the only active UN Hub in the world.