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UN Sustainable Lifestyle hub in Gothenburg
In September 2025, Gothenburg became a UN Hub for Sustainability. The announcement was made in connection with the UN General Assembly in New York. The work with sustainability hubs is part of a strategy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030
The United Nations aims to highlight local solutions to global challenges, and Gothenburg received the distinction for its long-term, strategic efforts. We now want to use 2026 and 2027 to inspire locally, nationally and internationally, while creating collaborations that strengthen all dimensions of sustainable development. The focus is on tourism, meetings, events and destination development as tools for transformation.
Gothenburg is currently the only active UN Hub in the world.
Public talks at Way Out West
Three sessions at WOW TALKS 2026 are organised by Greentopia as part of Gothenburg as a UN Sustainable Lifestyle Hub:
- Too Hot to Ignore – Climate scientist Johan Rockström in conversation with Messiah Hallberg.
- Eat the Future – A discussion exploring how circular food systems, locally sourced ingredients, and smarter food and drink choices can contribute to a more sustainable future. Featuring Sofia B Olsson (chef and Head Chef at VRÅ), Maria Bodin (marine biologist and researcher at the University of Gothenburg), Kenneth Gustavsson (Founder and CEO of Wine Mechanics), and Kalle Wannerskog (Food Editor at Göteborgs-Posten and moderator).
- Wear the Future – A discussion on how design, creativity and sustainability can go hand in hand, and how the choices we make today will shape the wardrobes of tomorrow. Featuring Valter Nilsson (artist and songwriter), Anna-Karin Dahlberg (Chief Sustainability Officer at Lindex), Sally Bjerre Gaarde (Danish designer and recently graduated Master’s student from the Swedish School of Textiles), and Anna Lidström (Senior Lecturer in Design at the Swedish School of Textiles, University of Borås, and moderator).
Conference on sustainable events
Gothenburg’s status as a UN Hub for Sustainability is activated for the first time through the Gothenburg Sustainable Events Conference, organised together with Göteborgsvarvet and the Centre for Tourism at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, over two half-days on 21–22 May 2026.
Leading voices in sustainability, destination development, and the global events industry come together to explore the central question: How can local action accelerate solutions to global challenges?
The programme features representatives from the United Nations Office for Partnerships, Jukka Punamäki from Helsinki Tourism and Destination Management, Rikke Holm Petersen from Wonderful Copenhagen, Elin Bondemark from Göteborgsvarvet, Fredrik Andersson from Gothia Cup and Partille World Cup, Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu from UN Climate Change, and Daniel Calarco from the Rio Carnival.
”…what stayed with me the most was the openness and humility in Gothenburg’s approach. You didn’t claim to have all the answers or to get it right every time; instead, you leaned into collaboration, transparency, and learning in real time. That honesty is rare. Many destinations hesitate to act unless they’re sure of success, but your example shows that progress often comes from iteration – from trying, testing, and tweaking. That mindset gives others permission to start somewhere, even if it’s not perfect.”
Deborah Park, PRSA Travel and Tourism Section, about the Gothenburg presentation in SDG Lounge, New York, september 2025
The UN Sustainable Lifestyle Hub in Gothenburg is a collaborative platform established through a partnership between the United Nations Office for Partnerships and the City of Gothenburg, represented by Göteborg & Co. The hub operates within the framework of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network.
