Sustainability pledge
We all have a responsibility to the countries we visit to reduce our environmental and social impact for the benefit of the host city and its residents
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Jakarta – the world’s largest city
A new United Nations report has found that Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, is the world’s largest city – with a population of 41.9 million.
Jakarta faces problems caused by sinking land and rising sea levels; some have estimated that up to a quarter of the city could be underwater by 2050. The situation is so serious that Indonesia’s government is constructing a purpose-built capital city: Nusantara, in the East Kalimantan province of Borneo island. Learn more.
By hosting the 2026 congress in Jakarta, we will showcase how Asia – home to 19 of the world’s 33 megacities – is tackling urban challenges such as traffic congestion, energy access, waste management, extreme weather and social inequality.
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Award-winning venue
With its steadfast commitment to sustainability, the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) stands as an exemplary choice to house the congress. The biggest convention and exhibition centre in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, the venue was proclaimed “Energy Efficient Building of the Year” by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources when it opened in 2015. With its front facade made of transparent glass, the building does not need excessive additional lighting.
Details on getting to the venue by public transport can be found on the venue and travel information page.
Approach on-site
While we are aware that delegates’ international travel to attend a sustainability event increases their carbon footprint, we anticipate that more than 60 per cent of attendees will come from Indonesia and neighbouring countries within Southeast Asia.
Legacy
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After the inaugural congress at the University of Glasgow in 2022, 300 trees were planted – one for every delegate who attended the event.
The congress was clear: to achieve the SDGs, universities must leverage their human talent. They must build and lead equitable partnerships. They must ensure that their curricula are diverse, interdisciplinary and accessible. Universities must embrace their reputation and be seen in public as responsible leaders.
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In 2023, we collaborated with the Health, Safety and Environment Department and the Sustainability Office of our event host, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), to alleviate the carbon equivalent generated by our delegates' and speakers' travel by planting mangroves.
Also known as “blue carbon”, mangroves typically sequester carbon at two to four times the rate of mature tropical forests and contain the highest carbon density of all terrestrial ecosystems. Each mangrove tree planted removes more than 308kg of CO2 from the atmosphere over the growth life of the tree.
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