[voew-listserver] Sustainable Resource Conference in Bruges, Belgium 6/7 December 2006
- From: "Katrin Fuhrmann" <Katrin.Fuhrmann@xxxxxx>
- To: voew-listserver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:05:02 +0200
*Excuses for Cross Posting*
Dear All,
We would like to draw you attention to the following conference with Timo
Makela, DG TREN, Bas de Leeuw, UNEP Paris and Thorvaldur Gylfason, University
of Iceland on 6/7 December 2006(see text below)!
You can find further information and the registration form on:
http://www.coleurope.eu/template.asp?pagename=chairtoyotaconfbruges2006
We are very much looking forward seeing you in Bruges and please feel free to
distribute the information widely.
Kind regards,
Katrin Fuhrmann
Conference Chair: Prof. Dr. Raimund Bleischwitz, Toyota Chair for Industry and
Sustainability, College of Europe and Wuppertal Institute, Research Group
âMaterial Flows and Resource Managementâ (Director: Dr. Stefan Bringezu).
Conference Manager: Katrin Fuhrmann, College of Europe, Belgium,
email: kfuhrmann@xxxxxxxxxxxx
The management of natural resources such as metals, industrial minerals,
construction minerals, fossil fuels and renewable resources has been a
challenge to sustainable development from the very beginning. It now can be
seen as one of the most persisting problems worldwide. Economics and other
branches of research have to explore appropriate tools able to deliver
sustainable growth.
The conference has two starting points: firstly, the concern for high raw
material prices on international markets and security of supply, secondly, the
recently launched European thematic strategy on sustainable management of
natural resources (COM(2005) 670 final) which aims at doubling resource
productivity increases up to at least 3 % p.a. The conference will shed light
on the status quo and on trends in both areas. By discussing tools and response
options for both policy-makers and industry, it takes a forward-looking view.
Those options will include business strategies, sectoral action plans,
incentive systems, and international mechanisms. The conference also seeks to
discuss modelling techniques such as input-output analysis and scenario
development.
A few top researchers have been invited to present a paper. Proceedings will be
published, either as a special issue in a scientific journal or with a
reputable publisher house. As of today (June 27), speakers include Timo Makela,
DG TREN, Bas de Leeuw, UNEP Paris; Thorvaldur Gylfason, University of Iceland;
Marton Herczeg or Robert Nemesceri, REC/HU; Bernd Meyer, GWS and University
OsnabrÃck/GE; Gjalt Huppes, Leiden University/NL, Arnold Tukker, TNO/NL; Fritz
Hinterberger, SERI/AU.
The conference is co-organised with UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and
Economics (DTIE). The outcomes of the session 'Beyond Europe' will contribute
to identifying issues and partners for the International Panel on the use of
Natural Resources, which will be initiated jointly with the European
Commission. The Panel has the objective to provide advice on the key
environmental impacts of natural resource extraction and use in a life-cycle
perspective and on approaches to reducing impacts, aimed at decoupling
environmental impacts from economical growth.
Target groups are researchers, in particular from economics, as well as
high-level decision-makers from business, public policy and NGOs. Young
researchers are especially encouraged to present a paper. The conference will
take place in Bruges, Belgium, one of the most scenic places throughout Europe.
The conference is organized as a two days event. The first day is planned to
setting the scene, with a top-level keynote lecture and policy-oriented
lectures with speakers coming from the European Commission, from industry and
NGO. The second day will be research oriented with paper-presentation sessions
running parallel.
The conference will also be utilized to launch a proposal for an information
hub on sustainable resource management. A panel with representatives from
different European organisations will conclude on perspectives.
Presentations are contributing to the following topics:
A) Business strategies in an international, value-chain oriented
perspective: how can strategies go beyond exploiting low-hanging fruits? How
can they integrate SMEs, internationally operating corporations and business in
developing countries?
B) Resource-intensive industries, sectoral strategies: Can they cope with
the challenges ahead? How do they influence downstream resource use? What is
the challenge for extractive and resource-intensive industries in Europe?
C) Resource use and sustainable consumption: how can consumersâ
decisions shape upstream extraction and production?
D) Incentives and policy programmes: what incentives and cross-cutting
programmes lead to the most positive impact on the economy as well as on social
and environmental dimensions of sustainability?
E) Scenario analysis, econometrics and forecasting: what tools are
available to model future resource use? How can research assess technological
and other potentials for resource productivity?
F) Information systems: What information tools can efficiently support the
quest for increasing resource productivity, sustainable resource management,
and sustainable growth? How can they provide guidance for management and
policy-making? How significant are transaction costs, especially for RTD,
cooperation and partnerships? Can appropriate indicators cut across global
monitoring, national statistics and reporting at business level?
G) Economics of material flows: do mechanisms of ârebound effectâ
overcompensate for productivity gains? To what extent can resource-saving
strategies improve employment, social welfare and competitiveness in the
long-run? What can institutional and evolutionary economics contribute to the
understanding of material flows?
H) Perspectives from selected European member states, in particular from
new member states, emerging and transition economies: Do high prices provide
incentives for leapfrogging strategies? How can they shape patterns of
investments and industrialization? What is the impact of high demand for
natural resources in some regions on European efforts for decoupling processes
in the EU?
I) Beyond Europe - Impacts in China, other emerging economies and
developing countries: Does their demand undermine efforts undertaken by Europe
and by some businesses? How do their efforts meet sustainable development
demands? What are sustainability benchmarks for extracting and using resources
coming from outside the EU?
J) âResource warsâ and ânew geography of tradeâ: what patterns of
trade occur resulting from emerging economies? Does Europe need international
mechanisms comparable to the Kyoto flexible instruments? Does Europe shift
environmental burden to the developing countries?
Organized jointly by the âToyota Chair for Industry and Sustainabilityâ at
the College of Europe and by the Wuppertal Institute, and endorsed by the
international research programmes IHDP-IDGEC and IHDP-IT, further cooperation
and endorsements are under way. Additional support is given from the Aachen
Foundation Kathy Beys, a foundation committed to factor-X resource productivity.
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Endorsement by IHDP-IDGEC and IHDP-IT
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