Hamburg Sustainability Week - "Accelerating Sustainable Transformations in a Turbulent World" (Gaia 2025)
Poster: The Earth League / GERICS
GERICS and The Earth League are organising a public event as part of Hamburg Sustainability Week (HSW), which will take place on Wednesday 4 June, 2025 from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.. The event will take place in the St. Katharinenkirche (Katharinenkirchhof 1, 20457 Hamburg), one of the HSW experience locations, there will be an art installation, Gaia, and a piano concert following our event at the same location (from 8:00 p.m.).
The event will start with some short presentations by Prof Johan Rockström, Director Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Prof Peter Schlosser, Vice President and Vice Provost of Global Futures at Arizona State University, co-chairs of The Earth League, followed by a panel discussion with invited guests including the President of Leuphana University Lüneburg, Prof Sascha Spoun, Prof Dr Kris Ebi, Professor of Global Health, University of Washington, and Prof Dr Line Gordon, Director, Stockholm Resilience Centre. The event will be moderated by Prof Dr Daniela Jacob, Director of the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) and Honorary Professor at Leuphana University Lüneburg.
This public event invites the people of Hamburg to a panel discussion on the role of science and collaboration in developing a sustainable future. Scientists believe that the next five years will define the next century. The discussion will explore how science can uphold democracy and promote collective action to tackle complex global challenges.
We are looking forward to your visit!
You can find more information about this event here.
The participants:
Prof Dr Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Professor in Earth System Science at the University of Potsdam, and a co-chair of The Earth League, is a pioneering Earth system scientist best known for co-developing the Planetary Boundaries framework, which defines the environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate. In 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for his groundbreaking work guiding global efforts to maintain a stable and resilient planet.
Prof Dr Peter Schlosser is the Vice President and Vice Provost for Global Futures at Arizona State University and a co-chair of The Earth League. He is a leading Eearth scientist known for his expertise in the Earth's hydrosphere and the impact of human activities on the planet's natural state. A seasoned academic leader and international advisor, he plays a pivotal role in shaping global dialogues and institutional strategies for a thriving future on a rapidly changing planet. He also co-chairs major global initiatives like the Global Commons Alliance, helping to align science, policy, and action for planetary stewardship.
Prof Dr Kristie Ebi is a professor at the University of Washington in the Department of Global Health and a leader in climate and health with decades of research on the health risks of climate variability and change. Her research work has shaped international adaptation strategies, focusing on vulnerable populations and guiding policy through contributions as a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and co-chairing the International Committee on New Integrated Climate Change Assessment Scenarios.
Prof Dr Sascha Spoun has served as President of Leuphana University Lüneburg since 2006, leading a transformative redesign of the university’s academic model through a participatory process. His leadership positioned the university as a pioneer in sustainability research and interdisciplinary education. Under his guidance, the university developed an award-winning academic framework that integrates environmental responsibility with innovative teaching and learning. A recognized voice in higher education, Prof. Spoun is a strong advocate for academic innovation and quality across universities.
Prof Dr Line Gordon is Director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre and a leading sustainability scientist known for her research on the interconnected roles of food, water, and ecosystems in building biosphere resilience. A professor at Stockholm University, she is a transdisciplinary researcher who integrates resilience thinking, socio-ecological systems, and global-to-local approaches to sustainability. Her work bridges global modeling with local action, advancing just and sustainable food system transformations. She has helped shape international sustainability agendas and continues to be a prominent voice in the field.
Prof Dr Daniela Jacob has directed the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) since 2015 and is an honorary professor at Leuphana University of Lüneburg. Prof. Jacob was a lead author of the IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and one of the lead authors of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (WG 2). She is Chair of the Climate Council of the City of Hamburg and of the German Committee for Sustainability Research in Future Earth (DKN), Co-Chair of WPN2030, and a member of the Earth League. Her research focuses on regional climate modeling, climate services, and sustainability to shape a more climate-resilient and sustainable future through science and action.