Sustainable management of environmental resources - Resilient cities and multifunctional land-use

From 17 to 19 May, the United Nations University (UNU-FLORES), the Technische Universität Dresden and the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development will be hosting the Dresden Nexus Conference (DNC2017) in the Deutsches Hygiene Museum Dresden. The approximately 400 participants will exchange views on projects and solutions for the sustainable management of environmental resources. The main speakers are renowned experts from international research institutions and world associations.

What do the Weißeritz Green Belt in Dresden, the recycling of organic waste in Tanzania, the strategies for the removal of sand and rock in Vietnam, or a well thought-out circulation system for the use of purified sewage and sewage sludge in the Caribbean have in common? UNU-FLORES, the TU Dresden, and IOER – the three organisers of the Dresden Nexus Conference (DNC2017) – are researching all of these topics. In addition, all these projects aim to manage different environmental resources such as water, soil, waste, or energy in a sustainable manner. They do not look at the management of each resource in isolation, but rather take into account interdependencies, synergies, and conflicts. This interconnected thinking makes up the Nexus Approach to the management of environmental resources.

The Weißeritz Green Belt in Dresden, for example, protects the city from floods, at the same time regulates the city climate on hot summer days and it is an attractive recreational area for the local population. Using biomass from organic waste, the soil can be fertilised and stabilised in Tanzania. At the same time, the use of energy to conserve forests is saved. For this, however, a suitable circulation system and the knowledge of how much potential is available in biomass and waste is needed. The same applies to the use of cleared sewage and sewage sludge, for which there are usually insufficient concepts. The problem here: inadequate treatment or careless spreading on fields contaminates soil and water, and endangers human health. In Vietnam, on the other hand, the uncoordinated extraction of sand and gravel as a building material for the booming cities endangers nature and destroys unique landscapes. A well thought-out management for the building material production could prevent this.

These and many other projects will play a role at the Dresden Nexus Conference 2017. It also looks at how the Nexus Approach can contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda of the United Nations. The focus will be on aspects of monitoring and implementation of integrated resource management strategies.

In 16 sessions, the international participants will address issues of multifunctional land use in rural areas, the integrated use of resources in urban areas, as well as interdisciplinary issues. Case studies from China, Germany, Qatar, Kenya, Tunisia, and Vietnam provide insights into the implementation of Nexus-based solutions. The main lectures on the three conference days will be attended by renowned scientists from international research institutions and world associations, including:

• Prof. Eugenie L. Birch, Penn Institute for Urban Research, University of Pennsylvania,
• Prof. Stefan Bringezu, Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR),
• Dr. Jerome Delli Priscoli, Global Water Partnership,
• Prof. Nicola Fohrer, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation,
• Ambassador Csaba Kőrösi, Office of the President of the Republic of Hungary, Head of Directorate for Environmental Sustainability, and Co-Chair of the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals,
• Prof. Luca Montanarella, European Commission – Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability,
• Prof. Stefan Uhlenbrook, United Nations World Water Assessment Programme.

What is the “Nexus Approach”?
The goal of the Nexus Approach is to manage environmental resources sustainably. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to overcome barriers between individual sectors and scientific disciplines to jointly develop cross-sectoral strategies. The approach is based on the understanding that individual environmental resources are closely linked. If these relationships are taken into account, this can lead to more resource efficiency, while at the same time environmental risks and ecological degradation may be minimised.

Further information:
http://www.dresden-nexus-conference.org
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/

Media representatives are cordially invited to report on the conference.

Please note: Due to strict safety regulations, registration is recommended in advance of the event. Please use the following e-mail address:

Potential interviewees, who will give lectures on the main topics across the three days:

17 May 2017:
Theme “Resource Management in Resilient Cities”:
Jerome Delli Priscoli, Global Water Partnership/GWP, Chair of Technical Committee.

Theme “Multifunctional Land-Use Systems”:
Nicola Fohrer, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.

18 May 2017:
Theme “Resource Management in Resilient Cities”:
Eugenie Birch, Penn Institute for Urban Research, University of Pennsylvania.

Theme “Multifunctional Land-Use Systems”:
Luca Montanarella, European Commission – Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability.

19 May 2017:
Theme „Synthesis with the Sustainable Development Goals”:
Ambassador Csaba Kőrösi – Office of the President of the Republic of Hungary, Head of Directorate for Environmental Sustainability, and Co-Chair of the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.

Stefan Uhlenbrook, United Nations World Water Assessment Programme, Director.
Stefan Bringezu, Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR), Universität Kassel.

Media inquiries

Rachel Shindelar
UNU-FLORES
Communications and Advocacy Officer
Tel:+ 49 (351) 8921 9377

Heike Hensel
IÖR
Press Relations
Tel:+ 49 (351) 4679 241

Claudia Kallmeier
TU Dresden
Press Officer
Tel.: +49 (351) 463-40761

An Overview of the Organisers

United Nations University Institute on the Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources
United Nations University aims to develop sustainable solutions for pressing global problems of human survival and development. The Institute for the Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) was established in Dresden, Germany in December 2012. The institute engages in research, capacity development, advanced teaching and training. UNU-FLORES develops strategies to resolve pressing issues in the area of sustainable use and integrated management of environmental resources such as soil, water, and waste. https://flores.unu.edu/

Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER)
The Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER) is an establishment of the Leibniz Association for research in the spatial sciences. The IOER develops the scientific basis for the sustainable development of cities and regions in the national and international context. Research addresses ecological issues of sustainable development. https://www.ioer.de/1/home/

Technische Universität Dresden
The Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden) is one of Germany’s eleven universities of excellence: strong in research and considered first-class with respect to the range and quality of the study programmes it offers, it is also closely interconnected with culture, business, and society. A strategic partnership between the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at TU Dresden and UNU-FLORES has been established, which has led to joint research projects and a doctoral degree programme in “Integrated Management of Water, Soil and Waste”. https://tu-dresden.de/en