Ensuring sustainability in natural resource management is a global challenge calling for global solutions. Our flagship international conferences serve as a platform to establish a prolific dialogue among policy-makers, businesses, scientists and civil society leaders. By breaking down silos, we enable an informed exchange on the latest scientific advances and practical solutions for the sustainable management of resources. We strive for our conferences to be a valuable opportunity to confront experiences, share visions and build a common understanding towards urgent, collaborative action.
Since 2009, we have organised conferences in Japan, Switzerland, China, Peru, Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Belgium and Ghana, resulting in:
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.
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.