The 11th World Sustainability Forum
The 11th World Sustainability Forum
Sustainable and Resilient Cities
Part of the World Sustainability Forum series
18th June 2025
18th July 2025
7th August 2025
7th August 2025
18th September 2025
Sustainability, Resilience, Ecology, Environment, Landscape
Welcome from the Chairs
The 11th World Sustainability Forum (WSF2025) will be a 48-hour event held in Barcelona, and it stands as a catalyst for urban resilience and environmental sustainability, with a clear focus on forging partnerships and harnessing innovation to create novel solutions for today’s most urgent sustainability challenges. It provides a platform where ideas and visions are translated into concrete solutions for measurable progress in ecology, sustainability and environmental development.
The forum will have six main subjects focused on urban resilience, landscape and sustainability for social community impact.
WSF2025 is part of a global sustainability forum series that is organized and supported by MDPI.
We are particularly hoping to address STEM research with the social sciences and policy makers.
We look forward to welcoming you in person and virtually!
Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar and Irene Petrosillo
Global Conference Chairs
Conference Secretariat
wsf11@mdpi.com
Event Chairs
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
Irene Petrosillo is an Ecology professor at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies at the University of Salento, Italy. Prof. Petrosillo has a degree in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Ecology. In 2005 she obtained her Ph.D. in Basic Ecology at the University of Salento and, after a period of post-Doc, she became a researcher of Ecology. Her research interests are mainly focused on multi-scales ecological assessments, landscape ecology, ecosystem services valuation, Land-use/land-cover change, and land degradation.
Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Prof. Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar is Full Professor of Accounting at the University of Granada. He teaches Financial Accounting and Public Sector Accounting in the Department of Accounting and Finance, and he has been the coordinator of all subjects of Financial Accounting in the degrees of Finance and Accounting, Administration and Business Management, and double degree in Business Administration and Management and Law for more than 25 years. He has also been a visiting professor at the Utrecht Universiteit and the Sapienza University of Rome, and he is currently a professor of more than 4 official master's degrees, as well as a visiting lecturer in master's degrees in other universities such as the Autonomous University of Madrid. His research interests are mainly related to the disclosure of financial information, accountability, the implementation of emerging technologies in Public Administration, open government, smart governance in smart cities, public sector financial sustainability and analysis of international public sector accounting standards. He is considered one of the most influent scientists in the world in the field of e-government and smart cities, and he is author of a paper included in the list of the 20 "highly cited paper" by the Web of Science database (Thompson Reuters) in the field of smart cities.
Sessions
S2. Sustainable reporting and communication in the private and public sector
S3. Climate change and Socio-ecological systems
S4. Sustainable urban landscape
S5. Circular Economy
S6. Renewable Energy
Registration
In-Person Registration
The registration fee includes attendance of all conference sessions, morning/afternoon coffee breaks and lunch, as well as all the virtual conference sessions, and recordings afterwards (please note that the registration does not include travel or accommodation arrangements).
Important Information
Participation to the conference is considered final only once the registration fees have been paid.
Please note that, in order to finalize the scientific program in due time, at least one registration by anyone of the authors, denoted as Covering Author, is required to cover the presentation of any accepted abstract. Covering Author registration deadline is 7 August 2025. Your abstract will be withdrawn if your registration is not complete by this date.
When registering, please provide us with your institutional email address. This will accelerate the registration process. If you are registering several people under the same registration, please do not use the same email address for each person, but their individual institutional email addresses. Thank you for your understanding.
Certificate of Attendance: Participants of the event will be able to download an electronic Certificate of Attendance by accessing their dashboards on Sciforum.net once the event is concluded. The certificates will be found under "My Certificates" category.
Discounts
Reach out to us if you're from a low-income or lower-middle income country to apply for reduced fees.
Members from partnering societies are granted a 20% discount on all registration fees. Please make sure to provide us with proof that you are indeed part of one of our partnering societies. Are you part of a society that isn't partnering with the conference? Contact us to discuss a possible partnership!
In case you should be eligible for a price reduction, please note that special prices and discounts will be added to your registration when processing. This means that you will not have to pay the stated price immediately upon registration, and you will receive an invoice with the price adjustment after you have registered.
| Start date - End date | Price | Supported documents | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Person Chairs, Invited Speakers, MDPI Guests | ...-... | Free | |
| DISCOUNTED Academic | ...-7th August 2025 | 370.00 EUR | |
| DISCOUNTED Student | ...-7th August 2025 | 140.00 EUR |
Scanned copy or photograph of your current student ID (not expired) |
| DISCOUNTED Non-Academic | ...-7th August 2025 | 520.00 EUR | |
| Academic | ...-18th September 2025 | 450.00 EUR | |
| Student | ...-18th September 2025 | 220.00 EUR |
Scanned copy or photograph of your current student ID (not expired) |
| Non-Academic | ...-18th September 2025 | 600.00 EUR |
Cancellation policy
Cancellation of paid registration is possible under the terms listed below:
|
> 2 months before the conference |
Full refund but CHF 50.- are retained for administration |
|
> 1 month before the conference |
Refund 50% of the applying fees |
|
> 2 weeks before the conference |
Refund 25% of the applying fees |
|
< 2 weeks before the conference |
No refund |
Visa Information
Please note that you must apply for your own visa application. MDPI is not responsible for any visa application, however, MDPI can provide a Visa Support Letter.
- Applicants must have paid for registration and submitted an abstract in order to get a letter of support.
- Applicants must provide us with a scan of their valid in date passport that contains a photo of them.
- Applicants must provide us with a letter of support from their institution to confirm that they support the delegate attending the meeting.
- This must be carried in good time before the meeting, “last minute” requests will not be processed.
Please click here to check the conditions for entry into Spain.
Disclaimer
We will endeavour to present the program advertised. However, in the unlikely event that MDPI shall deem it necessary to cancel the conference, all pre-paid registration fees will be reimbursed. MDPI shall not be liable for reimbursing the cost of travel or accommodation arrangements made by individual delegates. Tours run by third parties may be subject to cancellation or alteration.
Beware of Unauthorized Registration and Hotel Solicitations
Note that Sciforum is the only official registration platform to register to WSF2025, and that we are not associated with any hotel agency. While other hotel resellers and travel agencies may contact you with offers for your trip, they are not endorsed by or affiliated with WSF2025 or Sciforum. Beware that entering into financial agreements with non-endorsed companies can have costly consequences.
Insurance
The organizers do not accept liability for personal accident, loss, or damage to private property incurred as a result of participation in the WSF2025. Delegates are advised to arrange appropriate insurance to cover travel, cancellation costs, medical, and theft or damage of belongings.
Photographs and/or video will be taken during the conference
By taking part in this event you grant the event organizers full rights to use the images resulting from the photography/video filming, and any reproductions or adaptations of the images for fundraising, publicity or other purposes to help achieve the conference’s aims. This might include (but is not limited to), the right to use them in their printed and online publicity, social media, press releases and funding applications.
Instructions for Authors
The 11th World Sustainability Forum will accept abstracts only.
The accepted abstracts will be available online on Sciforum.net during and after the conference.
Please note that abstract submission and conference registration are two separate processes. Please use the same email address during registration and when submitting your work.
What are the benefits in getting your abstract accepted at the WSF2025?
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You get to present and discuss your latest findings with your peers.
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You get to network and exchange ideas and resources with like-minded researchers.
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Your research will be highlighted in an MDPI announcement and social media post. You will be mentioned in the News section of MDPI.com, as well as in one of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation Social Media Posts.
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You will receive a 10% discount on the registration fees.
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You will receive the opportunity to submit your full manuscript to a dedicated Special Issue with a 20% discount on the publication fees.
Submit your research
Create an account on Sciforum if you do not have one, then click on ‘New Submission’ on the upper-right corner of the window, or by clicking on ‘Submit Abstract’ at the top of this webpage. Indicate what thematic area is best suited for your research.
- Submit an abstract in English (maximum 400 words). The deadline to submit your abstract is 18 June 2025.
- The structured abstract should include the identification of the research gap based on prior research, the aim of
the paper, introduction, methods, results, and conclusion sections of about 200–400 words in length. - Upon submission, you can select if you wish to be considered for an oral presentation or a poster presentation.
- Following assessment by the Selection Committee and the Chairs, you will be notified by 18 July 2025 in a separate email whether your contribution has been accepted for oral presentation.
- Please note that, in order to finalize the scientific program in due time, at least one registration by any of the authors, denoted as Covering Author, is required to cover the presentation and publication of any accepted abstract. Covering Author registration deadline is 7 August 2025. Your abstract will be withdrawn if your registration is not complete by this date.
Oral Presentations
Oral Presentations will be given in person. If a selected speaker cannot attend in person to give their oral presentation, they forfeit their right to present.
All presentations must be sent to the Conference Organizers before the day of their presentation.
Poster Presentation
Posters can be displayed in the venue near the meeting hall.
Publication Opportunities
Participants will be able to submit their full manuscript to the upcoming Topics, which will conclude multiple journals. Details of the topics will be announced here later. All submitted papers will undergo MDPI’s standard peer-review procedure. The abstracts should be cited and noted on the first page of the paper.
Venue, Travel and Accommodation
Location
Barcelona
Located on the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain, this city has a rich and diverse history, with its roots dating back to Roman times. The fruitful medieval period established Barcelona's position as the economic and political center of the Western Mediterranean. The city's Gothic Quarter bears witness to the splendor enjoyed by the city from the 13th to the 15th centuries.
The 20th century ushered in widespread urban renewal throughout Barcelona city, culminating in its landmark Eixample district, which showcases some of Barcelona's most distinctive Catalan art-nouveau, or modernista, buildings. The Catalan Antoni Gaudí, one of the most eminent architects, designed buildings such as La Pedrera, the Casa Batlló, and the Sagrada Família church, which have become world-famous landmarks.
In 1992, Barcelona gained international recognition by hosting the Olympic games, which brought about a massive upturn in its tourism industry. For visitors, this has translated into the very modern yet incredibly old city you see now in the 21st century, where new elements work to both preserve and celebrate the city’s heritage and origins.
Barcelona has plenty of outdoor markets, restaurants, shops, museums, and churches. The city is also very walkable, with an extensive and reliable Metro system for more far-flung destinations.
Espai Pujades is a modern and versatile venue located in the vibrant heart of Barcelona, providing an ideal setting for conferences, seminars, and workshops. The venue is situated on C/ Pujades, 350, in the Poblenou neighborhood, which is known for its innovative and technological character, serving as a hub for creative companies, startups, and cultural spaces, while still retaining its historical charm as the city's former industrial area.
https://www.espaipujades350.com/es/
Address: C/ Pujades, 350, 08019 • Barcelona • Spain
Travel
By plane:
The international airport of Barcelona is called Barcelona-El Prat and is located 10 km from the city center. The airport is well connected to airport hubs in Europe and several locations around the world. For more information about the airport and flights, please visit the official website at https://www.aena.es.
Once you get to the airport, you have several options to reach the city center.
To the city center:
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By shuttle bus: AEROBUS (https://aerobusbarcelona.es). This bus connects Barcelona Airport (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2) with the city center (Pl. Espanya / Pl. Catalunya) in 35 minutes. It runs every day of the year with departures every 5 minutes and costs EUR 6.75.
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By train: TRAIN R2 NORD (https://rodalies.gencat.cat). This train connects Terminal 2 of the airport with the city center (Barcelona–Passeig de Gràcia). It runs every day of the year with departures every 30 minutes and costs EUR 4.60.
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By taxi: Taxis just outside the arrival area. The taxi from the airport to the city center (Plaza Catalunya) costs approximately EUR 30–35. Public taxis in Barcelona can charge four types of fares. These fares must be visible inside the taxi and are usually printed on a sticker over the window. Finally, the amount payable must be indicated on the taximeter. VTC apps that work in Barcelona are Bolt and Cabify and might offer cheaper rates.
To the conference venue:
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By train:Barcelona Sants station is Barcelona's largest train station and provides rail services both in and around Barcelona and for the whole of Spain and beyond. For more information about the station and train service, please visit the official website at https://www.renfe.com.
Once you get to the station, you have the following options to reach the conference venue:
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By metro: Take LINE L5 and L4 or LINE L1 and L4 (https://www.tmb.cat).
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By taxi: Taxis are available just outside the station. A taxi from the station to the conference venue costs approximately EUR 15-25.
Accommodation
We want your stay in Barcelona during the conference to be as comfortable as possible. With that in mind, we have agreed on a discount with several hotels to make your choice of accommodations easier. Please book your accommodation online and contact the hotels directly with any issues or requests related to accommodation bookings.
We are delighted to announce that the following hotels will offer a discounted price for all Plants 2025 attendees:
Hotel |
Description |
How to book |
 |
Catalonia Hotels offers a collection of exceptional hotels in Barcelona, combining comfort, style, and convenience in prime locations across the city. The hotels offer excellent connections to various public transport options, making it easy to explore Barcelona for both tourism and business. |
Click below to make a reservation with a 10% discount or use the code “CATALONIABCN”
|
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Located in the heart of Barcelona, Holiday Inn Express Barcelona offers the perfect blend of comfort, modern amenities, and convenience. Its prime location allows you to reach the venue in just 10 minutes by tram. |
Click below to make a reservation with a 10% discount or use the code “WORLD SUSTAINABILITY FORUM 11”.
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These accommodations have been carefully chosen to provide comfort and convenience for our guests while ensuring affordability through negotiated rates. Prepare to make the most of your conference experience with our exclusive lodging options designed to enhance your stay.
Beware of Unauthorized Registration and Hotel Solicitations
Note that Sciforum is the only official registration platform to register to WSF2025 and that we are not associated with any hotel agency (other than those listed above). While other hotel resellers and travel agencies may contact you with offers for your trip, they are not endorsed by or affiliated with WSF2025 or Sciforum. Beware that entering into financial agreements with non-endorsed companies can have costly consequences.
Sponsors and Partners
For questions regarding sponsorship opportunities, check out our sponsorship brochure or contact wsf11@mdpi.com.
Organizers
Sponsors
