On July 9, the event’s opening day, experts from all continents tackled one of the defining challenges of our era: advancing sustainability amidst increasingly complex global realities.
Welcoming a diverse community of scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and students, Professor Gyula Zilahy, Corvinus faculty member and president of the ISDRS, set the tone by asking where, after three decades of research and policy efforts, does sustainability stand today?
Zilahy emphasized that, while the concept of sustainable development has guided scholars and practitioners for more than 30 years, it is now crucial to assess what has truly been accomplished, what paradigms have shifted, and what new obstacles have emerged.
He drew attention to the conference’s dual focus for 2025: the intersection of sustainability and artificial intelligence, and the launch of the “Budapest Declaration,” a formal statement highlighting the ongoing urgency and necessity of sustainability research, which is scheduled for publication soon.
Corvinus University’s commitment to these issues was further underscored by rector Bruno van Pottelsberghe, who introduced the school’s century-long academic tradition and its recently approved “Bridge Strategy.”
This roadmap, approved by the university’s Senate, aims to internationalize Corvinus further and places special emphasis on sustainability and AI as the institution’s two cross-cutting priorities.
According to van Pottelsberghe, addressing these themes is not just an academic obligation but an imperative for the university’s broader mission to serve both local and global communities.
One of the day’s most memorable interventions came from Dinesh Bhuju, executive director of MICD at Mid-West University in Nepal and president of the Resources Himalaya Foundation. Reflecting on the legacy of last year’s ISDRS gathering in Kathmandu, Bhuju described research as “the beating heart” of the society, with a particular emphasis on sustainability challenges unique to the Global South.
Bhuju noted how, in Nepal, traditions of living in harmony with nature have shaped local attitudes for generations. The ISDRS network, he added, has helped catalyze critical research projects, including investigations into the impact of energy poverty on the educational opportunities of girls in remote Himalayan communities.
In a surprise twist, Bhuju concluded with a quotation from Hungarian poet Sándor Petőfi, cautioning against starting with the “tower instead of the foundations,” underscoring the importance of solid groundwork in the pursuit of progress.
Taking a pragmatic look at today’s geopolitical and environmental realities, Csaba Kőrösi, strategic director of the Blue Planet Foundation and former president of the UN General Assembly, delivered a keynote entitled “Sustainability Transition: Facing Headwinds and Tailwinds.”
He dissected both the obstacles and opportunities currently shaping the sustainability agenda, drawing on recent global events to illustrate his points. Kőrösi stressed that measuring progress on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals remains a persistent challenge, as countries continue to lack a consistent methodology. This absence of unified reporting, he warned, can erode trust in the data and, by extension, in the global sustainability movement.
According to Kőrösi, today’s “headwinds” include not just political inertia, but a surge in geopolitical rivalry and conflict. While there were 29 armed conflicts worldwide in 2019, that number has now risen to 52, with defense budgets outpacing global GDP growth. These conditions divert attention and resources away from the sustainability agenda, making coordinated action more difficult.
He also noted the lack of integration of sustainability into national strategies and budgets, which relegates vital initiatives to the status of afterthoughts, funded only by “extra” or discretionary budget lines, rarely sufficient to drive systemic change.
However, Kőrösi also identified several “tailwinds” that are helping push sustainability efforts forward. The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events have brought climate change and resilience to the forefront of public consciousness, leading to new investments and innovations.
Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and fusion energy offer further cause for optimism. He observed that, for the first time, investments in renewable energy have nearly doubled those in fossil fuel infrastructure, a clear sign that markets are beginning to shift.
Building on these themes, Barbara Wassen, Ambassador-at-Large for Climate and Climate Diplomacy at Hungary’s Ministry of Energy, provided a detailed look at what she described as seven “seismic” changes reshaping the world’s energy landscape.
Her analysis spanned shifting geopolitical realities, security concerns around global energy supply, the rise of electrification, and the relentless pressure to boost economic competitiveness.
Drawing on conversations with business leaders, she emphasized the need for adaptability, citing the unprecedented leadership challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis, ongoing wars, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
Wassen concluded her address on a hopeful note, listing seven positive takeaways: among them, the Paris Agreement’s tangible results and the enduring importance of global cooperation and carbon reduction. She reminded participants that, even amidst chaos, there are clear signals of progress.
Corvinus Professor Emeritus Sándor Kerekes took a personal approach, sharing how difficult it is even for experts to navigate competing theories and find the “right” path in today’s world. The complexity and unpredictability of modern systems, he argued, mean that not even the most sophisticated AI tools can eliminate all risks.
Instead, Kerekes advocated for a pragmatic approach: experiment, learn from setbacks, and adapt in cycles, a message that resonated with many in the audience.
Closing the opening day, Dean Katalin Ásványi outlined Corvinus University’s multi-faceted approach to sustainability. The institution’s efforts are structured around four pillars: education, research, societal impact, and sustainable operations. Ásványi highlighted not only Corvinus’s international reputation for sustainability teaching but also the encouragement of student and faculty research in the field.
The university, she noted, is increasingly involved in international collaborations and strives to involve its entire community (business partners, alumni, and current students) in a wide range of sustainability initiatives. A point of pride is the Gellért Campus, which hosted the conference and stands as one of Hungary’s most sustainable educational buildings.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of July 25, 2025.
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