The German Environment Agency is hosting the third European Resources Forum on 9-10 November 2016. The conference takes place in the “Ludwig Erhard Haus” in Berlin. The ERF addresses European decision-makers and experts from the fields of policy development, industry, academia, civil society and the media. The 2016 ERF is expected to attract some 400 participants.
After the successful conferences in 2012 and 2014, the European Resources Forum has established itself as an important European platform for discussion on the issue of sustainable resource use by focusing on the political and scientific debate on this subject.
The ERF seeks to contribute to the development and implementation of common positions for policy-making in Europe and internationally. The ERF is an important instrument for communication on resource issues and for setting up networks and initiating stakeholder alliances at the European level.
Through its chair, speakers and participants, the previous ERF in 2014 sent out a strong message to the new European Commission under President Juncker to maintain ambitious policy on resource efficiency and circular economy after the initial proposal “Towards a circular economy: A zero waste programme for Europe” was scrapped. On 2 December 2015, the new Commission presented its Circular Economy action plan “Closing the loop - An EU action plan for the Circular Economy”.
The ERF 2016 will continue the discussion of the current European approach to resource policy and work out new impulses for a resource efficient Europe. The conference will present best practice cases and business models for the circular economy as well as European country initiatives for resource efficiency. Particular attention will be focused on the learning potential from international perspectives and experiences for a resource efficient world. Resource efficient land use within the rural urban nexus and advancing the idea of an international platform for resource governance are further issues of the conference.
Last updated: 31 August 2016