Do you know where our metals come from? How are we going to produce all the electric cars we need for a green future? Will mining always be needed to supply these metals? These are three of many questions that will be debated by representatives from NGOs, industry and academia and by the general public during a two-day virtual event on 3 and 4 December 2020.
We all share a vision of a world in which people and nature thrive. To meet this goal, and following growing public pressure, the European Commission launched a Green Deal – a roadmap for radical change to the way our economies function that requires a new way of managing our mineral resources.
Of course, developing an ongoing sustainable circular economy is the ultimate goal, but recycling cannot yet provide for the specific and urgent demands of energy transition and green growth. A new and holistic strategy is needed to extract these materials with a minimum environmental impact while adhering to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A workable solution can only be achieved through dialogue, and all stakeholders must engage to define a framework for acceptable sourcing of raw materials.
To stimulate the discussion, the EU-funded projects INFACT and PACIFIC, together with the Natural History Museum of London will host a virtual event on 3 and 4 December 2020. The event will offer six sessions for discussion and debate on mining and its role in society. Twenty-two panellists with diverse professional and personal backgrounds including representatives from science, NGOs, stakeholders, industry and the museum sector will share their thoughts and open opportunities for questions and ideas from the public. The sessions will be moderated by Iain Stewart, Professor of Geoscience Communication at the University of Plymouth, UK, and Director of its Sustainable Earth Institute. The event’s organisers are committed to a diverse, respectful exchange of thoughts and ideas on a complex subject and warmly welcome your participation.
The discussions will cover:
- Where should we get the metals we need?
- Which mining business models could lead to sustainability?
- Can mining be part of a sustainable society?
- How can this vision fit into a circular economy?
- Who should decide?
More information:
Registration: https://www.can-mining-make-the-world-a-greener-place.com/registration
Programme: https://bit.ly/39vxSjz
Contact: info@infactproject.eu
Project INFACT: https://www.infactproject.eu/
Project PACIFIC: https://www.pacific-h2020.eu/
Natural History Museum: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/anthropocene.html
