GOTHENBURG SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT 2026

The Gothenburg Sustainability Summit 2026 brings together research, leadership practice and real-world experience to explore how an attractive and sustainable future can be actively shaped. Across keynotes and conversations, the programme moves from envisioning desirable futures to examining the structures, tools and collaborations required to realise them.

The day connects long-term perspectives with concrete action, highlighting how leadership, entrepreneurship, policy and innovation can interact to accelerate systemic change. Together, the sessions form a coherent journey through the challenges and possibilities of the transition, with a clear focus on moving beyond incremental improvements towards transformation.

Full programme – Gothenburg Sustainability Summit 2026

08:00

Registration and coffee

09:00

Opening of Gothenburg Sustainability Summit

Kata Nylén, Climate Psychologist and our master of ceremonies for the day

09:15

Envisioning Pathways to a Desirable Future (In English)

How future visions can be formulated and used as practical tools in strategic decision-making and long-term sustainable development.

Garry Peterson, Professor, Stockholm Resilience Centre

09:30

Utopian Stories

How imagination, storytelling and utopian thinking can expand our understanding of possible and positive futures.

Camilla Brudin Borg & Margaretha Häggström, University of Gothenburg

09:45

Continued Human Flourishing in the Age of AI (In English)

Ethical and philosophical perspectives on human wellbeing, dignity and leadership in an AI-shaped world.

Wakanyi Hoffman, Inclusive AI Lab, Utrecht University

10:10

Power and Space to Shape the Future

A conversation on motivation, trust and leadership across generations, and how belief in the future is translated into action.

Melker Wargbaner and Yasmine Djelloul

10:25

Networking break & coffee

11:00 Natural resources, power and geopolitics How intensifying competition for natural resources is reshaping geopolitics, trade and security, and what this means for organisations navigating the sustainability transition. Anders Wijkman, former Member of the European Parliament, honorary president of the Club of Rome and member of member of the International Resource Panel.

11:20 Spheres of Influence (In English)

How organisations can move beyond internal emissions and activate their broader influence to drive systemic change across society.

Solitaire Townsend, Co-founder and Chief Solutionist at Futerra

12:00

Networking lunch

13:00

Entrepreneurship as a driver of the Future

A conversation on entrepreneurship as a force for societal transformation, scaling solutions and enabling impact.

Malin Frithiofsson, founder of Daya Venture Guuled Mohamed, founder of Brightstep Sweden

Moderator: Kata Nylén

13:25

From Global Commitments to Concrete Action

How international climate processes shape leadership, investment and decisions at national and local levels.

Mattias Frumerie, Sweden’s Climate Ambassador and Chief Climate Negotiator

13:40

Bridges for Long-Term Transition – Business and Politics in Dialogue

Exploring structures, friction points and collaboration pathways between business and policy to enable long-term transformation.

Mattias Frumerie, Sweden's Climate Ambassador Charlotte Niklasson, Director of Public Affairs at SKF Frances Sprei, Professor in Sustainable Mobility at Chalmers University

Moderator: Kajsa Humlé Kirbe, Executive Director of CSR Västsverige

14:10

Networking break & coffee

14:50

The Laghum Economy

A pragmatic proposal for reshaping market systems so that innovation and prosperity operate within planetary boundaries.

Stefan Krook, entrepreneur and author of The Laghum Economy

15:20 Gender-Equality For a Sustainable Future The theme for the WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award is Gender-Equal Societies. Professor Martin Hultman outlines how power, norms and resources shape global gender equality efforts and influence the pace of the sustainability transition. Martin Hultman, Professor of Sociology at the University of Gothenburg

Jonas Attenius, Chair of the Municipal Executive Board of the City of Gothenburg and Chair of the board of the WIN WIN Award Sara Larsson, Executive Director of the WIN WIN Award

15:45 Secret guest speaker

16:00 Announcement of the 2026 WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award

Presentation of the award laureates to the WIN WIN Award (1 million SEK) and WIN WIN Youth Award (100,000 SEK) under the theme Gender-Equal Societies Annie Hohfält, jury chair of the WIN WIN Award

Johan Holmén, jury chair of the WIN WIN Youth Award

16:15

From Vision to Action

Closing reflections from MC Kata Nylén

16:30

Continued networking in the lounge