Bonn as a UN city: International reception for a sustainable future

Bonn as a UN city: International reception for a sustainable future

“There’s something there,” one could say when it comes to Bonn’s important role in the area of ​​international cooperation and sustainability. On October 31, 2025, an international reception took place in the Old Town Hall of Bonn, which not only attracted representatives from civil society and the political sector, but also numerous international guests. Loud Bonn.de Around 70 guests were present, including participants from various UN institutions, international organizations and representatives from science and business. Mayor Dr. Ursula Sautter and other politicians, including Nathanael Liminski and Serap Güler, gave greetings, while Toily Kurbanov, Executive Coordinator of the UNV, delighted those present with his speech.

Bonn has established itself as a German United Nations city since 1996. Over the decades, the city has developed into a symbol of international dialogue. With 27 UN facilities, including prominent organizations such as UNV, UNFCCC and UNCCD, Bonn is one of the largest United Nations locations in Germany. There are around 1,200 employees who work every day to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are so important to the United Nations mbeim.nrw emphasized.

The topics in focus

The collaboration in Bonn focuses on essential topics such as climate protection, combating desertification and preserving biological diversity. Human security and disaster preparedness also play an important role. “We promote networking between the UN, NGOs, federal authorities, science, business and the media,” the city of Bonn continued. This interaction contributes significantly to the effective implementation of the SDGs and shows that the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia attaches great importance to the support and constant development of Bonn as an international location.

Particular attention will also be paid to upcoming projects, such as the UN Women office, which will open its doors in 2025. It will advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, which is another sign of Bonn's commitment in the international context. Furthermore, it is emphasized that Bonn is not only a hub for international organizations, but also an important university and science location with an interdisciplinary research infrastructure. This is demonstrated not least by the Bonn Alliance for Sustainability Research, which was founded as part of COP 23.

On the way to becoming an international hub

The fact that Bonn is very popular as a location for international conferences is shown by the hosting of COP 23 in 2017. This event attracted over 20,000 international representatives and sent a strong signal for international cooperation. In addition, the North Rhine-Westphalia Academy for International Politics brings a breath of fresh air to the city by addressing global challenges and intensifying international exchange.

In order to consolidate Bonn's position as a center of excellence for international politics and sustainability strategies, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia is investing in many different projects. This is done, among other things, by promoting international conference formats such as the “Daring Cities” conferences or the Global Media Forum, which help to position Bonn as a pioneer in international dialogue.

Bonn has established itself as a habitat for international cooperation and innovative approaches to shaping a sustainable future. A good knack for networking within this diverse community is essential. The city will therefore continue to send a strong signal to the international community.