Budapest Declaration
Adopted by the Participants of the 31st Annual Conference of the International Sustainable Development Research Society
Corvinus University of Budapest, 11 July 2025
In the backdrop of an increasingly unsustainable world, the scientific method in general and sustainability science in particular face increasing challenges and attacks that undermine scientific integrity, credibility, and public trust.
For this reason, we, the participants of the 31st Annual Conference of ISDRS coming together from diverse disciplines and regions from all around the world with the common goal of building a sustainable future, hereby affirm our shared commitment to advancing sustainability research, and its practical application, as an essential pillar for global well-being, equity, and resilience.
Recognising that:
- Our planet faces urgent and interconnected challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, social inequalities, unsustainable resource use and recurring economic crises;
- A deeper understanding of planetary systems and of the nature and extent of human influence on them is essential for identifying effective and lasting solutions;
- Scientific research has the potential to either advance or undermine sustainable development, depending on how it is conducted, applied, and governed;
- Scientific independence is increasingly threatened by political interference and commercial interests, eroding public trust in many parts of the world;
- Global platforms and initiatives – such as the upcoming High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development of the United Nations in July 2025 and the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033) – represent vital opportunities to reaffirm and strengthen the role of science in shaping sustainable futures;
We therefore reaffirm that:
- Sustainability research is not optional. It is a moral and scientific imperative to safeguard the well-being of present and future generations.
- Researchers should act as change makers. Their perseverance, creativity, and dedication drive the knowledge and technologies that shape a just, equitable, and sustainable world.
- The global research community deserves sustained support. This includes adequate funding, access to data and technology, freedom to pursue innovative ideas, and protection from political, economic, or institutional barriers that may hinder progress.
- The scientific community across the globe to uphold hope, take action, and maintain a sustained commitment to our shared future, despite the many adversities they may face;
- Sustainability researchers to adopt inter- and transdisciplinary approaches and to engage openly with all kinds of stakeholders (institutions, business, NGO and the general public) on the aims, implications, and values of their work, enabling society to make informed and responsible choices;
- Governments, funding bodies, academic institutions, and industry partners to increase their support for sustainability research, and to cultivate conditions in which such research can flourish – free from undue influence and aligned with the public good;
- Policymakers to ensure that scientific knowledge is meaningfully integrated into policy development and decision-making processes at all levels without delay;
- The public and civil society to recognize the value of science, to place trust in scientific inquiry, and to actively participate in efforts aimed at creating a more sustainable and equitable world;
- All sectors of society to promote peace as a fundamental condition for the pursuit and
- achievement of sustainable development.
We believe that every problem or crisis holds the potential for constructive transformation and lasting progress.
We believe in the power of knowledge to drive societal transformation and to safeguard the planet for present and future generations and we stand in solidarity with sustainability researchers everywhere – whether working in the field, the laboratory, the classroom, or within communities. We recognize their invaluable contributions and offer our support for their efforts, their challenges, and their aspirations.