A Growing Global Alliance Against Inequality Sets Course for 2027

HAMBURG, GERMANY.

One year after its launch, the Global Alliance Against Inequality reconvened at the 2026 Hamburg Sustainability Conference to reaffirm its shared determination to reduce inequality and identify common priorities on the road to the 2027 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit.

The meeting concluded with the release of a Joint Statement on Working Together Towards the 2027 SDG Summit, reflecting the shared commitment of members and partners to advance this agenda in a spirit of cooperation, complementarity and mutual support. The statement sets out a common direction for collaboration to reduce inequalities within and between countries and strengthen collective action in the lead-up to the 2027 SDG Summit.

As inequality continues to weaken democracy, erode social cohesion, undermine trust in institutions, and slow progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, members and partners reaffirmed that sustained political leadership and collective engagement are more important than ever. They committed to keeping inequality high on the multilateral agenda, broadening the Alliance, enhancing coordination with relevant initiatives, such as the International Panel on Inequality and the Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures, and strengthening the connection between rigorous evidence, policy dialogue and political decision-making.

Launched at the 2025 Hamburg Sustainability Conference, the Global Alliance Against Inequality is a flexible, voluntary and consensus-based platform that has continued to expand over its first year, bringing together governments, international organizations, academia and civil society from across regions. The Alliance is supported by the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies at the NYU Center on International Cooperation, which serves as its Secretariat, and welcomes others who share its aspirations to join.

The full text of the Joint Statement follows below.

Joint Statement on Working Together Towards the 2027 SDG Summit

Hamburg Sustainability Conference, June 30, 2026

We, the members and partners of the Global Alliance Against Inequality, gathered in Hamburg on the occasion of the third Hamburg Sustainability Conference, reaffirm our shared determination to work together to reduce inequalities, both within and between countries, in the years ahead. In doing so, we underscore the Alliance’s continued commitment to strengthen democracy, promote respect for human rights, and foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

One year from the launch of the Alliance, we recognize that addressing inequalities remains essential to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, sustaining social cohesion, and renewing trust in institutions and multilateral cooperation. In the context of fiscal pressure, geopolitical fragmentation, rapid technological change and rising polarization, sustained political will and collective engagement are more necessary than ever.

Looking ahead to the 2027 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit also as the likely starting point of the discussions on a post 2030 framework for sustainable development, we intend to work together in a spirit of openness, complementarity and mutual support. In doing so, we will seek to support country-owned approaches and ensure that the perspectives and priorities of partner countries are reflected in our collective efforts.

In particular, we will seek to:

• Keep inequality high on the agenda across the multilateral space, including the 2026 United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week, the 2027 High-Level Political Forum, and other relevant moments on the road to the Summit.
• Sustain dialogue and exchange among members, partners and the wider community working on inequalities, sharing experiences, lessons learned and policy approaches that have proven effective in advancing equality and inclusion.
• Broaden the coalition by welcoming new members and deepening engagement with United Nations entities, regional commissions, civil society, academia and other partners committed to this agenda.
• Continue expanding the identification and dissemination of policies and practices that have contributed to reducing inequalities, including through initiatives such as the Inequality Solutions Portal and policy dialogues, with a view to strengthening evidence-based policymaking and peer learning, while avoiding duplication and focusing on the Alliance’s added value within the existing multilateral landscape.
• Foster complementarity with related initiatives, helping to connect rigorous evidence and analysis to political dialogue and decision-making.
• Build on the agreements of the Summit of the Future, the Ffd4 Conference and the Second World Summit for Social Development with important agreements for social and economic justice.
• Approach the 2027 SDG Summit as a shared milestone, working towards achievement of SDG10 and related targets, a visible Alliance presence, and a meaningful set of voluntary collective and individual commitments.

We pursue these aims in the spirit of the Alliance: a flexible, voluntary, consensus-based platform designed to complement and support the efforts of its members and partners.

We welcome others who share these aspirations to join us on the road to the 2027 SDG Summit and beyond.

For more information, visit www.sdg16.plus/global-alliance-against-inequality/ or follow the Hamburg Sustainability Conference using #HSC26.

All photos courtesy of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference.