Climate change, water security, sustainable transport, and the circular economy are some of the key sustainable development issues facing Central Europe. The Planet Budapest 2021 Sustainability Expo and Summit aims to address these and other issues and what role the four Visegrád countries (V4) – the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia – can play in addressing them. The event will also seek to raise awareness of the adverse environmental, social, and economic practices and argue that these negative changes are still reversible.

The centerpiece of Planet Budapest 2021 will be Summit bringing together heads of state and government, decision makers, experts from international organizations, and representatives of the scientific and business world to discuss actionable responses to sustainable development challenges. The Summit will be organized into 10 thematic sessions covering:

• sustainability in the post-COVID world;
• climate change;
• circular economy;
• “Central Europe and the Visegrád Countries for Sustainability – Champions or Laggards?”
• energy efficiency and security;
• smart cities;
• water and food security;
• transport;
• financing sustainable development; and
• waste management.

Planet Budapest 2021 also will feature a business expo and two special interactive programmes: one targeting for elementary and secondary school children, and the other the general public. The Expo, with the theme “Nature-Friendly Development,” will highlight the knowledge and expertise of the V4 countries to provide new solutions for a more livable future in energy, agriculture, transport, water, and waste management, and the development of smart cities.

Planet Budapest 2021, which the Government of Hungary will convene from 30 November to 5 December 2021, is a joint event of the V4 countries.