Robots for a Sustainable World: a Call for Action
At HRI, researchers and practitioners from all over the world meet to discuss and explore the intersection of robotics and artificial intelligence with our human, social world.
This year, the conference will focus on a special theme: Robots for a Sustainable World. We all face the pressing global challenge of achieving sustainability in every facet of our lives; we want to ensure that robotics is part of the solution.
Understanding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Sustainability has evolved significantly, expanding far beyond the confines of ecology to encompass economic, social, and technological dimensions.
The United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) are a universal call to action adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. They aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people are on a solid trajectory towards peace and prosperity. These 17 interconnected goals serve as a blueprint for a sustainable future, addressing issues such as clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry innovation and infrastructure, and climate action.
At HRI’25, we recognize that sustainability transcends environmental conservation. It involves creating systems that are resilient, inclusive, and equitable, ensuring that technological advancements benefit all segments of society.
Beyond Ecology: A Broader Perspective on Sustainability
While the ecological aspect of sustainability remains critical, we must also consider the broader implications. Economic sustainability involves creating robust economic systems that support innovation and provide fair opportunities for all. Social sustainability emphasises the importance of inclusive communities where everyone can thrive, promoting equity and social justice.
Technological sustainability, especially in the realm of robotics, requires us to think critically about how our innovations impact society and the environment. Robots can play a pivotal role in achieving the SDGs by improving efficiency, reducing waste, and providing solutions to complex problems in health, education, and industry.
Encouraging Sustainable Research Practices
We want to invite the broad community of HRI researchers, practitioners and industry stakeholders to embrace this global challenge, and meaningfully engage in the conversation through their research, robotic systems, or provocative thoughts.
Specifically, we invite the authors to reflect on the sustainability of their research methods and topics. This reflection goes beyond ethical considerations; it encompasses a holistic view of how research can be conducted and applied sustainably.
Sustainable Research Methods
- Resource Efficiency: consider the environmental impact of your research activities. How can you minimise waste and reduce energy consumption in your experiments and data collection processes?
- Collaboration and Inclusivity: engage with diverse communities and stakeholders to ensure that your research addresses the needs and concerns of various groups, particularly those traditionally underrepresented in technological advancements.
- Longevity and Scalability: develop solutions that are not only innovative but also scalable and adaptable to different contexts, ensuring long-term viability and impact.
Sustainable Research Topics
- Eco-friendly Robotics: reflect on the environmental impact of the production and/or use of the robotic systems we develop; explore how robots can contribute to environmental conservation, such as through precision agriculture, waste management, and renewable energy systems.
- Socially Responsible Robotics: investigate how robots can enhance quality of life, from improving healthcare delivery to supporting education in underserved areas.
- Economic Impact: study the potential of robotics to drive economic growth by creating new industries and job opportunities while ensuring that these benefits are distributed equitably.
Our Commitment to a Sustainable Conference
At HRI’25, we are not only focusing on the sustainability of the research presented but also on making the conference itself a model of sustainable practice. We have appointed two dedicated Sustainability Chairs who are working closely with our Local Chairs and other committee members to ensure that every aspect of the event aligns with our sustainability goals.
First, the question of the mere organisation of such an event, which implies flying hundreds of people across the world for an in-person meeting in Melbourne, Australia. An in-person international conference: is it really sustainable? Is it worthwhile?
Over the last 4-5 years, we have run many large scientific conferences fully or partially online. While technically feasible, it became also clear that the online experience can hardly be more than a “glorified video stream”, with very limited actual interactions between people.
Yet, science really is about circulating ideas between researchers and practitioners. It is also about creating a network of peers amongst whom the next experiments and projects will be imagined – and this is even more important for the junior colleagues amongst us, who might not yet have built such a network.
The difficulty of achieving this through virtual conferences has convinced us that the HRI’25 conference had to be held in-person to be scientifically sustainable. Along the same line, we are de-emphasizing the ‘hybrid’ side of the conference (only providing pre-recorded online videos of presentation). ‘Hybrid’ conferences really are in-person conferences for those who can afford it, and a sub-par virtual experience for those who can not – all while incurring significant costs for the organisation. Instead, to ensure the conference is as inclusive as possible, we will divest these costs towards fee waivers, reduced registration fee and/or travel grants, to ensure a broad, diverse and inclusive attendance.
In addition, HRI’25 will put in place multiple focused initiative for a more sustainable conference:
- Eco-friendly Venues: we are selecting venues that have robust sustainability practices, including energy-efficient facilities and waste reduction programs.
- Social inclusive conference: we have selected a venue that guarantees the accessible amenities; the conference proceedings are checked for their accessibility to, eg, screen reader; additional measures, like sign language interpretation or close captioning are also considered, based on the needs of the audience.
- Minimising Waste: we will drastically reduce (usually short-lived) conference giveaways. Efforts are in place to reduce the use of single-use plastics and paper. We encourage all participants to use digital materials and bring reusable water bottles and coffee cups.
- Sustainable Catering: our catering will prioritise locally sourced, organic, and plant-based options to reduce the environmental impact of food production and transportation.
- Green Transportation: we are working on providing information about sustainable transportation options for attendees, including public transport and bike rentals.
Call to Action!

As we prepare for HRI’25, we encourage all participants to think deeply about how their work can contribute to a more sustainable world. By integrating sustainable practices into our research, we can ensure that the advancements we make today will benefit future generations. Let’s collaborate, innovate, and inspire one another to build a world where technology and sustainability go hand in hand.
Join us at HRI’25 and be part of the movement towards a sustainable future. Together, we can harness the power of robotics to create a world that is resilient, equitable, and prosperous for all.