Belfast City Council allocated more than £30,000 to sponsor three conferences. The strategic policy and resources committee approved the funds during its April meeting.

Councillors granted £10,140 for the Sustain Exchange Summit on climate leadership, set for October. Organised by the non-profit Management and Leadership Network, the event expects up to 300 decision-makers. The council has backed the summit since 2021. Total project costs exceed £75,000, with plans to attract private sector contributions from firms including Danske Bank and Belfast Harbour.

Additional approvals covered £10,000 each for the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action Summit 2026 and the Summit of the Cities 2026.

Sinn Féin councillor Ronan McLaughlin called for a structured approach to conference sponsorships, noting approvals that day totalled nearly £50,000. He supported the Sustain Exchange funding, which passed unanimously.

Alliance councillor Micky Murray requested details on outcomes and benefits from the sponsorships. A council officer suggested incorporating anticipated results into a broader evaluation framework.

Committee chair Sinn Féin councillor Natasha Brennan emphasised assessing community benefits alongside economic gains, particularly involvement of local groups.