Responsible AI Takes Centre Stage as Global Leaders Endorse Hamburg Declaration

At the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC),  global leaders from the public sector, business, science, and civil society have jointly endorsed the Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the Sustainable Development Goals. The landmark initiative – the first global declaration focused specifically on AI in international development – outlines shared principles and commitments to promote the equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development and deployment of artificial intelligence worldwide, with particular emphasis on empowering developing countries.

The Declaration centres on ensuring that AI technologies uphold human rights, serve and protect marginalised communities, and combat disinformation. Co-signatories further commit to improving the resource efficiency of AI systems, expanding access to AI education for women and girls, and supporting the growth of local AI innovations in developing countries.

Addressing global challenges together

“Artificial Intelligence is one of the most transformative forces of our time, yet its potential remains unrealized for most developing countries. The Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for Sustainable Development represents a crucial commitment to harnessing AI responsibly, ensuring it promotes equity, connects communities, and addresses global inequalities. The Declaration underscores our collective responsibility. Our task now is to ensure AI’s extraordinary capabilities drive sustainable development, benefiting everyone, everywhere, equally.”

-Achim Steiner, Administrator, UNDP 

“Improving access to fair and sustainable AI worldwide is one of the great challenges of our time. Too many people remain excluded from the benefits of digital innovation. The Hamburg Declaration marks a turning point — AI must become a force for good, a driver of inclusion, equality, and sustainable development.”

-Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan, Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany   

From commitment to action

The Declaration is the result of extensive collaborations that began at HSC 2024. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP ), in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ ), introduced a set of principles for leveraging AI responsibly for sustainable development. Over the last year, a series of inclusive, multi-stakeholder engagements have further strengthened this shared vision. The result is a rallying call for global collaboration, challenging governments, businesses, and civil society to turn commitment into action by investing in inclusive and sustainable AI, supporting local innovation, and ensuring no region is excluded from the digital future.

“AI can be the great equaliser but only if it’s inclusive, ethical, and co-created. Today, Smart Africa  proudly endorses the Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the SDGs. Africa is not a bystander, we are shaping the future.”

-Lacina Kone, CEO, Smart Africa. 

The path forward requires collective effort: only through coordinated global action can AI be harnessed responsibly to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and create a more equitable digital future for all.