Resource Wende Conference, May 30th and 31th in Amsterdam

What makes this conference unique?

Based on scientific studies and systemic modelling, the Resource Wende programme advocates the hypothesis that the worldwide resource reserves and supply volumes are unable to meet the growing demand. The programme promotes an alternative systemic scenario to address the eminent resource crisis: What is the European and Dutch strategy in case the desired resource supply cannot be realized, due to planetary boundaries, sustainability challenges, geopolitical tensions and social implications?

This systemic scenario provides an alternative perspective that complements the existing Dutch Circular Economy programme and the draft European Critical Raw Materials Act. As scenario thinking suggests, it is essential to be prepared for multiple pathways that can lead us into a sustainable future, instead of not having a plan B.

During the conference and beyond, you will learn more about the hypotheses that underpins the Resource Wende programme and will be enabled to contribute to alternative systemic solutions. Solutions that allow businesses to close the gap between sustainable resource supply and demand volumes. Solutions that allow societies to get familiar with alternative economic models. Solutions that allow political leaders to equally distribute resources between nations and future generations, so we are able to bring earth overshoot day back to where it belongs: 31st December.

Programme Tuesday May 30th – The inconvenient truth (9.00-17.00)

In the morning prominent speakers will show the seriousness of the problem as well as the impact on our economy, our society, sustainability transitons and geopolitical relations. In the afternoon you are able to actively participate in two rounds of subsessions where we will take a deep dive into the challenges imposed by the increasing demand for resources. The day will be concluded by a lively discussion with industry leaders, to get their view on the supply chain risks and the importance of systemic resource strategies to realise a stable investment climate and a license to operate for industries in Europe.

  • Reception (9.00-9.45)
  • Plenary (9.45-13.00):
    • The urgent need for a Resource Wende and importance of this conference – Interview with Wouter van Dieren
    • Earth for All: How 50 years Club of Rome resulted in a framework for the future – Sandrine Dixson Declève + Ugo Bardi (Club of Rome)
    • Resource depletion: The final countdown? – Harald Sverdrup (Inland Norway University)
    • Challenges and Bottlenecks for the Green Transition – Simon Michaux (Geological Survey of Finland – GTK)
    • The international and political dimension of Resource Scarcity – René van Hell (Dutch ministry of forreign affairs)
  • Subsessions (14.00-15.45): Exploring the impact of Critical Raw Materials production and depletion on:
    • Resources – Problems and challenges – Harald Sverdrup (Inland Norway University & Founding father Resource Wende)
    • Transforming the Economic system to manage Resource demand – Herman Mulder (True Price, Impact Economy Foundation, SDG Netherlands) + Werner Schouten (Impact Economy Foundation)
    • Resource and the Circular Economy: The shape of the challenge – Simon Michaux (Geological Survey of Finland – GTK)
    • The resource demand of the Climate & Energy transitions – Hans van der Loo (Institute For Integrated Economic Research), Jorim Tielbeek (VU Amsterdam)
    • Resource production and Biodiversity – Mark van der Wal (IUCN NL) + Chris Baker (Wetlands International)
    • Dialogue with the Youth Climate Movement – Aniek Moonen + Youri de Koomen + Laura de Vries + Dieuwertje Wallaart (Jonge Klimaatbeweging / Youth Climate Movement)
    • Churches about ownership and equal distribution of Resources – Marijke van Duin + Kees van der Kooi
  • Dialogue (16.15-17.00): Industry leaders about the impact of resource scarcity on their business (competitive environment, business continuity, license to operate) with:
    Hans Van der Weijde (Tata Steel), Herman van der Meyden (Shell), Marco Waas (Nobian/VNCI), Tjeerd Jongsma (ISPT).
  • Drinks & Dinner (17.00-21.00)

Programme Wednesday May 31th – Pathway to alternative systemic solutions (9.00-17.00)

This day the focus will be on alternative solutions to reduce resource demand while at the same time accelerating sustainability transitions. In the morning we will look at government initiatives, such as the European Critical Raw Materials Act and the Dutch Resources Strategy, as well as public-private solutions brought forward by the Resource Wende and the Club of Rome. In the afternoon you are able to participate in a subsessions where alternative solutions for various focus areas are discussed. The second day will be concluded by a discussion how the Resource Wende complement existing initiatives and a handover of a proposal to political/industry leaders.

  • Reception (9.00-9.45)
  • Plenary (9.45-13.00):
    • Geopolitical Dimension of Resources – Jan Peter Balkenende (Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition)
    • Resource Wende: The pathway to systemic solutions – Harald Sverdrup (Inland Norway University)
    • Critical Raw Materials Act – Tom Berendsen (EU Parliament)
    • Dutch Resource Strategy – Matthéüs van de Pol (Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate)
    • Accelerating the Circular Economy – Video message Feike Sybesma (Global Climate Adaptation Centre)
    • Metal Fuels – New options for a resilient energysystem: Aris Blankenspoor + Philip de Goey ( Metalot)
  • Subsessions (14.00-15.00): Matching resource demand with sustainable supply volumes:
    • Resource Wende: The pathway to systemic solutions – Harald Sverdrup (Inland Norway University)
    • The Resource Balanced Economy – Simon Michaux (Geological Survey of Finland – GTK)
    • Taking resource scarcity into account in climate & energy policies – Hans van der Loo (Institute For Integrated Economic Research), Erik Löwik (SusTopia)
    • Biodiversity, how to stay within planetary boundaries – Mark van der Wal (IUCN NL) + Chris Baker (Wetlands International) + Jelmer Kamstra (Ministy of Foreign Affairs NL)
    • Youth Climate Agenda 3.0, a resource perspective – Aniek Moonen + Youri de Koomen +  Dieuwertje Wallaart (Jonge Klimaatbeweging / Youth Climate Movement)
    • Metal Fuels: New options for a resilient energysystem, an expert-sesson: Aris Blankenspoor and Philip de Goey (Metalot), Ilonka de Beer and Tammo Oegema (Inis Vitrin)
  • Dialogue (15.30-16.15): Complementary relation between Resource Wende and the Circular Economy with:
    Harald Sverdrup, Simon Michaux, Anne-Marie Rakhorst, and Aldert Hanemaaijer
  • Handover (16.15-16.30) of Resource Wende proposal to representatives of Industry, Politics and Future generations
  • Drinks (16.30-17.30)

What do we want to achieve?

During the second Resource Wende conference on May 30th and 31th in the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, we would like to achieve the following goals:

  1. Broad awareness of the consequences of resource depletion combined with a “Winner takes it all” market economy;
  2. Persuasion power: A group of powerful individuals and organisations united by the desire to tackle the risks of resource depletion and to accelerate the transition towards a just, resource efficient and circular economic system;
  3. Buy-in for the establishment of a Resources Research & Action Centre (REACT) that supports the resource transition with scientific evidence, advice and interventions;
  4. The start of a Resource Coalition consisting of stakeholders that want to contribute to and benefit from a Resource Action Research Centre.
Flyer Resource Wende conference

Contributors (incl. hyperlink to LinkedIn profile)