WRF Workshop Summaries

1. WRF Workshop Summaries • This presentation contains summaries of workshops held during the World Resources Forum 2009 in Davos, Switzerland. • The summaries have been prepared by participants in the the WRF Student Reporter project (see next slides). • They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the workshop chairs or participants. • For original sources and information, please contact the workshop chairs or speakers as provided on http://www.worldresourcesforum.org/program-sept-15

2. WRF Student Reporters • World Resources Forum Student Reporter project • Ten selected international students are blogging live from the event to a global audience, providing content summaries, background stories, interviews and impressions from the event. • Visit http://www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog to contribute! • The WRF Student Reporters are selected from the fellows of the Swiss Study Foundation and the members of oikos International. • The project was initiated by the Mercator Foundation Switzerland, who is a partner of the World Resources Forum. • For more information on the WRF Student Reporters, contact Martin Herrndorf at martin.herrndorf@oikos-international.org.

3. WRF 1 – Global Resource Use Workshop Summary • Bio-fuels • First generation bio-fuels will not mitigate the effect of climate change during the next thirty years, especially due to land use change. • Consumption • Need to distinguish between consuming less and consuming differently. • Consumers need more information. • Water • Although Europe has a plentiful supply of water at present, it should prepare now to avoid the same situation we face with natural resources at present. • Concern about virtual water flowing out of water-scarce countries. Prepared by: Harriet Jackson, London School of Economics, 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

4. WRF 1 – Global Resource Use Workshop Summary Key Conclusions Key open questions • An increase in resource efficiency alone is not sufficient. • Policy is needed to better inform consumers. • Water resource problems need to be addressed immediately. • How can we improve the poor understanding of global supply chains? • Will people realise that there is a difference between ‘well-being’ and ‘well-having’? Prepared by: Harriet Jackson, London School of Economics, 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

5. WRF 2 – Dematerialization - A Global Perspective Workshop Summary • Three messages on resource productivity and circular economy (CE) in China: • DajianZhuTongji University, Shanghai • Why? Scenario: China needs to decouple economic growth from environmental impact, but in the sense of relative decoupling. • What? Model: CE is a kind of multi-circular economy towards more services with less throughputs. • How? Strategy: How can China implement CE in practice? Barbara Schausberger, IGLO and Fritz Hinterberger, Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI), "How to measure products’ ecological sustainability performance. Results of an Austrian ECR pilot project“ Environmental Categories IGLO&SERI Indicator set GHG Emissions Carbon Footprint Water Water Footprint Land use Actual Land Use Abiotic Materials Abiotic Material Input Biotic Materials Biotic Material Input Prepared by: Kate Negacz, Warsaw University, 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

6. WRF 2 – Dematerialization - A Global Perspective Workshop Summary Key Conclusions Key open questions • Why this indicator set? • Relevant for the whole life circle of the product • Gets to the root of environmental issues • Considers the most important environmental categories • Considers scarsity of all natural resources • Applicable for all products and services • Ecolabeling and CO2 emission indicators • Willingness of the consumers to base their choice on the mentioned indicators Prepared by: Kate Negacz, Warsaw University, 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

7. WRF 3 – Eco-Innovation Workshop Summary • Different definitions of eco-innovation • Eco-innovation is an innovation designed to satisfy human needs and provide a better quality of life for everyone with a life-cycle minimal use of natural resources (materials including energy, and surface area) per unit output, and a minimal release of toxic substances. • Different development pathways to eco-innovation exist in business • Need to provide funding to companies engaged in eco-innovation • EU funding programme has reached out to SMEs across Europe • How to shift to a circular economy (on the macro level)?

8. WRF 3 – Eco-Innovation Workshop Summary Key Conclusions Key open questions • Need for a shift in policy rationale: innovation = economic growth, eco-innovation = quality of life • Need for a shift in industrial policy: support for eco-innovation rather than any innovation • Need for a shift in regulatory framework: adapt the framework, including taxation, to encourage eco-innovation in the market place • Need for leadership and action NOW: global consensus not always needed, e.g. the EU environmental standards can have a global influence • What sort of eco-innovation do we need to move towards a more sustainable use of resources (product, system)? • How can we make eco-innovation profitable? • What are the concrete policy actions to make eco-innovations become “new business as usual”? • Can public funders reach out to “radical innovators”?

9. WRF 4 – Limits to Resource Consumption Workshop Summary • The System behind Resource Consumption • Increasing costs of resource extraction • Definition of resource scarcity • Lack of feedback • Ecological Footprint • Carrying capacity • Development over the last decades • Factors to reduce gap • Modern society and resource use • Comparison of agrarian and industrial society • Specialisation of society / subsystem Prepared by: Nora Steurer (University of Bonn und Vienna), Nike Möhle (University of Zürich), Joss Baker (University of Bayreuth), 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

10. WRF 4 – Limits to Resource Consumption Workshop Summary Key Conclusions Key open questions • System • Need to change the rules • Technology can not save us • Radical reduction in population • Ecological Footprint • Population growth and Consumption are crucial • Societies and resource use • Specialised subsystem only look on their areas of expertise • Rethink time usage • How to deal with population growth? • Role of individuals decisions? • How can people in the area of sustainability learn from people in the area of marketing? • How does a system with different rules look like? Prepared by: Nora Steurer (University of Bonn und Vienna), Nike Möhle (University of Zürich), Joss Baker (University of Bayreuth), 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

11. WRF 5 – Towards a New Economic Framework Workshop Summary • Happiness & Growth • Use input for ends, not for means (towards ends) • Double decoupling: Efficiency (technology) and sufficiency (values) • Global Recycling Society: What Economics Can Offer • A new economic model with new theory behind it is needed • Holistic approach to production: Input-Output Analysis • Findings from the petrE project • Effects of different measures upon CO2 emissions • Effects of different measures upon resource extraction • Physical limits in this world Prepared by: Nora Steurer (University of Bonn and Vienna), 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

12. WRF 5 – Towards a New Economic Framework Workshop Summary Key Conclusions Key open questions • Needs for sufficiency economies • De-monetarization, De-ownership, De-materialization • Approaches from top down and from bottom up (question of identity) • Recycling and product life cycle matter! • Stabilization of CO2 emissions possible! • Resource extraction barely goes down by same measures • Economic costs will be low compared to the current crisis • Where does the change begin? • How to measure what matters? • Stabilization of CO2 emissions only until 2020. And then? • How to deal with resource extraction not going down? • How to change economic system without revolution? Prepared by: Nora Steurer (University of Bonn and Vienna), 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

13. WRF 6 – Sustainable Financing Workshop Summary • Responsible investments needed to achieve sustainability goals: • Environmental issues, especially resource efficiency • Social issues • Responsible companies might enjoy market advantage • Share of responsible investments differs according to definition • Resources not key focus of traditional responsible investment • Indicators could create transparency about resources use • Feasibility of existing indicator sets • Customised indicator sets used by sustainability investors • Sector-specific indicator sets to inform decision makers • In 10 years time, resources might be indirectly important as investors will look for efficiency. Prepared by: Xavier Ballansat, ETH Zurich, 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

14. WRF 6 – Sustainable Financing Workshop Summary Key Conclusions Key open questions • Focus on 3 to 5 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to inform top management • Responsible companies are better prepared for legislation change • Need for a legislation that forces companies to adopt standardised indicators • Why is there a need for another indicator similar to the GRI? • How can economic and social indicators become an integral part in economic decisions? Prepared by: Xavier Ballansat, ETH Zurich, 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

15. WRF 7 – Sustainable CompaniesResource Efficient Product Service System Workshop Summary • Which factors do companies facilitate to integrate resource-efficiency into their decisions on strategic and product level? • What should be done to make companies realise and utilise the opportunities of resource efficiency for their own future? Prepared by: Leo Caprez (University of St.Gallen), Joss Bracker (University of Bayreuth), 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

16. WRF 7 – Sustainable CompaniesResource Efficient Product Service System Workshop Summary Key Conclusions Key open questions • Crucial Factors: • Commitment of Owners / Top-Management • Governmental influence through legal frameworks • Available technology • Cooperation with stakeholders • Next steps: • Pull-effects from demand side • Widely know and accepted standards and label • How to improve commitment among top-management / owners? • How to create labels/standards for resource-use? • How improve effectiveness of the large number of current labels? • How to sell services instead of products (i.e. km instead of tires) Prepared by: Leo Caprez (University of St.Gallen), Joss Bracker (University of Bayreuth), 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

17. WRF 8 – Resources and Risks Workshop Summary • We are facing serious risks of breakdown. One specific risk that is often neglected in the discussions is the rise of the world population which is – of course – highly correlated to the future availability of resources. • Our lifestyle has a big impact on nature and the changed conditions re-influence the life on this earth; e.g. environmental migration. Prepared by: Your Name Here, Your University Here, 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/

18. WRF 8 – Resources and Risks Workshop Summary Key Conclusions Key open questions • How to confront the risks? • Stop denying that risks exist • Question basic assumptions and ideas • Not just look at the bits (i.e. climate change, degradation of the eco-system, water problems), but focus on the interconnectedness • Try to understand the causes and stop to deal with the symptoms • Where should the objectives be set? • High aims and try how far we can get? • Realistic aims, but attempt to achieve them? • How to integrate cultural, social, political, environmental issues for faster problem solving? Prepared by: Your Name Here, Your University Here, 15 September 2009, www.worldresourcesforum.org/student-blog/