Seminar

Innovative models for the management, regulation and governance of natural resources

28 October 2021

The FSR Water & Waste and RENEL Chair from Lorraine University are co-organising an hybrid seminar on Thursday, October 28^th 2021 to present and discuss cases of innovative approaches to the management, regulation and governance of natural resources.

Natural resources (including forests, watersheds, oceans, air, fauna and flora) as well as material resources (non-metallic minerals, biomass, fossil fuels, and metals) produce benefits and services on which human existence depends and are also critical to livelihoods, economic growth, development and well-being. However, human activities are putting unsustainable pressure on these resources, and current trends in biodiversity and ecosystem loss are believed to threaten 80 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets related to poverty, hunger, health, water, cities, climate, oceans and land. Under current population and growth trends, the 2030 Water Resources Group predicts global water demand will exceed available supply by 40 percent by 2030. The demand and use of material resources have been growing over the past century, fuelled by economic and population growth, urbanisation and societal changes. From 1990 to 2017, material use has more than doubled, and is projected to double again by 2060 (OECD, 2019). As a result, pressure on natural resources continues to grow, bringing negative impacts in terms of pollution, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change. The complex policy issues and difficult choices regarding the management, conservation, and use of natural resources necessitate comprehensive innovative approaches to rejuvenate the management, regulation and governance of natural resources.