FORUM

Mobilising Concerted Action For Sustainable Resource Use.

Through our multi-stakeholder research and implementation projects, we work to facilitate the advancement of scientific knowledge and build institutional and technical capacity for a sustainable use of natural resources globally. Thanks to a wide network of international partners, we participate in large European projects and coordinate complex implementation projects, with a strong focus on African and Latin American countries.

Since 2009, we have organised conferences in Japan, Switzerland, China, Peru, Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Belgium and Ghana, resulting in:

The Objectives Behind Our Events

Why

Awareness Raising and Advocacy

Foster international cooperation

Knowledge co-creation and dissemination

Overcome silos through multiple perspectives

Build support for concerted action

Explore synergies for new collaborations

In Partnership With Switzerland And Ghana

WRF'21 Conference Report

A Green Deal for Sustainable Resources

On October 12-14 2021, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Ghana co-hosted the World Resources Forum 2021. WRF’21 took place as a hybrid event, with two local hubs in Accra and Zurich, and a three days of online sessions.

WRF’21 acted as an interactive platform for sharing and discussing the latest research, policies and practices in the field. With over 40% of total participants from Africa, the Forum put the challenges and solutions for sustainable resource use in Africa at the core of an international debate.

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From Previous WRF Conferences

Impressions

Accelerating the resource revolutions is the right issue to be addressed and the WRF is the right place to be for all who care for the future of humanity.

Janez Potocnik

The World Resources Forum is the premier annual meeting that keeps resource efficiency in focus and builds global momentum towards putting in place the required policies to promote it.

Paul Ekins

The WRF conference brings together the global academic, business, policy and activist communities to analyse and reflect on the pressing environmental issues of the day. These are truly interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral gatherings. WRF is an important international agenda setter in the sustainability arena.

Halina Brown

A conference series that expands outside the usual comfort zone of OECD countries. Sustainable use of resources involves everyone! The WRF also brings to the table the countries whose resources are exploited.

Ron Zevenhoven

In times of fake news, the WRF has reliably proven its capacity to establish, and make known, the true state of the art in research on resource use.

Marina Fischer-Kowalski

    Methodological Pillars

    Our Approach

    WRF 2021 – Accra, Ghana and Zurich, Switzerland

    “A Green Deal for Sustainable Resources”: global governance of raw materials, circular economy in Africa, trade and finance, fair transition to circularity, responsible mining, secondary materials.

    WRF 2019 – Geneva, Switzerland

    “Making Natural Resource Governance Fir for the 21st Century”: governance of mineral resources, circular economy in Africa,  raw materials trends, sustainable consumption and production.

    WRF 2019 – Antwerp, Belgium

    “Closing Loops – Transitions at work”: 1.5-degree lifestyles, global metal flows, digital technologies, sustainable materials, climate policy, bio-economy, soil and land, ports in a circular economy.

    Swiss Resources Forum 2018

    Swiss initiatives and networks on resource efficiency, innovative solutions in the built environment, governance and trade of mineral resources.

    WRF 2017 – Geneva, Switzerland

    “Accelerating the Resource Revolution”: governance of raw materials circular economy and sustainable recycling, resource efficiency and decoupling, lifecycle thinking, smart cities.

    WRF 2016 Latin America and the Caribbean – San Josè, Costa Rica

    ‘Building Sustainable Cities and Lifestyles’: sustainable business and financing, bio-economy, sustainable lifestyles and education, sustainable and inclusive cities and buildings.

    Swiss Resources Forum 2016

    “From the Energy to the Resource Revolution”: the supply of critical metals and other resources needed for renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, innovation and economic growth.

    WRF 2015 – Davos, Switzerland

    “Boosting Resource Productivity by Adopting the Circular Economy”: resource efficiency, investments in innovation for sustainable production, sustainable lifestyles for shared prosperity.

    WRF 2015 Asia-Pacific – Sydney, Australia

    ‘Resource Productivity in the Asia Pacific’: resource productivity, enabling transition pathways and innovation through collaboration.

    WRF 2014 – Arequipa, Peru

    ‘Innovation, Competitiveness and Resource Efficiency’: international policy coordination, cleaner production, resource policies for climate change, circular economy, measuring progress.

    WRF 2013 – Davos, Switzerland

    “Resource Efficiency, Governance and Lifestyles”: global resource governance, resource productivity and the social and environmental impact of current consumption and production systems.

    WRF 2012 – Beijing, China

    “Resources and Green Economy”: relation between resource scarcity, increasing prices and unsustainable use of resources with economic development and global stability.

    WRF 2011 – Davos, Switzerland

    “Shaping the Future of Natural Resources – Towards a Green Economy”: supply security, assessment methods, resource use indicators and targets, social impact of resource use, communication and education.  

    WRF 2009 – Davos, Switzerland and Nagoya, Japan

    “Shaping the Future of Natural Resources”:  natural resource use trends and limitations, eco-efficient technologies, economic frameworks.