Brussels, 19-20 June 2017
During the event ‘European and global extractive industries: steps towards sustainable partnership approaches and responsible mining practice’ it was concluded that major environmental and socio-economic problems require new international cooperative approaches and that there is a need for better dialogue between resource producers and consumers. The event was organized by the Strategic Dialogue on Sustainable Raw Materials for Europe (STRADE) project team.
The STRADE project, funded by the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union, addresses the long-term security and sustainability of the European raw material supply from European and non-European countries. Using a dialogue based approach, the project brings together governments, industry and civil society to deliver policy recommendations for an innovative European strategy on future EU mineral raw material supplies.
Howard Mann from the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development (IGF) and Paul Ekins from the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources gave speeches on the topic of dialogue between resource producers and consumers. This was followed by an expert panel on visions for a mutually beneficial EU mineral resource cooperation with resource-rich countries. Dirk-Jan Koch, special convoy Natural Resources of the Dutch ministry of Foreign affairs, emphasized the need to promote dialogue and cross-sector learning through multi-stakeholder partnerships.
STRADE project coordinator Dr. Doris Schüler from the OEKO-Institute discussed in her presentation that the FORAM project is advancing the idea of a World Forum on Raw Materials and therefore there is a need for close cooperation and coordination between the FORAM project and the STRADE project. FORAM representative Susan van den Brink (United Nations University) discussed the activities of FORAM with participants, such as the mapping of existing initiatives and the possibility for initiatives to participate in FORAM through the online form at www.foramproject.net.
In the session on EU Mineral resource cooperation with developing countries, presentations on specific initiatives included the Responsible Mining Index (Isabelle van Notten, Responsible Mining Initiative), the OECD Handbook on Risks associated with Production and Trade of Natural Resources (Louis Maréchal, OECD), the UNEP Map-X (Inga Petersen, UNEP) and the Raw Materials Scoreboard (Lie Heymans, EU DG GROW). The STRADE project also presented a draft concept for a knowledge platform on EU mineral supply and related socio-economic and environmental issues, for the development of a holistic raw materials information system.
During the second Raw Materials Week, organised by the European Commission in Brussels, 6-10 November 2017, FORAM progress and the framework for its collaboration with other EU projects will be further presented and discussed. A FORAM pilot event will be organized in June 2018, venue to be confirmed.
Write to foram@wrforum.org for more information.
