Event
Shaping Sustainable Futures – Global Challenges, (G)Local Solutions (EADI/IOB)
Photo: Markus Spiske/Unsplash
Date: June 29, 2026 - July 2, 2026
Between June 29 and July 2, the international conference “Shaping Sustainable Futures – Global Challenges, (G)Local Solutions”, jointly organised by the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) and the Institute of Development Policy (IOB), will take place at the University of Antwerp. The event will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and students to explore the complex dynamics of sustainability in a world facing mounting global challenges.
About the Conference
The conference will delve into the multifaceted nature of sustainability – encompassing ecological, social, economic, cultural, and political dimensions – and how societies navigate the tension between global imperatives and local realities. Under the overarching theme of Global Challenges, the event aims to foster dialogue on the interdependence between international frameworks (such as climate agreements, trade policies, and the Sustainable Development Goals) and local, community-driven initiatives.
The subtitle (G)Local Solutions underscores this interplay, emphasising that while sustainability demands global cooperation, lasting progress depends equally on locally grounded, context-specific action. The conference invites contributions that examine how different regions, communities, and actors respond to sustainability challenges, and how these responses intersect across scales.
Particular attention will be given to interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches, including partnerships between academic and non-academic actors. Comparative research exploring connections between the Global South and North is especially encouraged, as is critical engagement with the evolving role of Development Studies in addressing today’s sustainability dilemmas.
Key deadlines:
- 20 October 2025: Call for abstracts opens
- 21 December 2025: Call for abstracts closes
- 30 January 2026: Notification of acceptance/rejection
Registration will open in 2026.