The world’s leading event for circular economy thinkers, doers and leaders hit Brussels from 15 to 18 April, showcasing the most impactful circular solutions from around the world.

The International Resource Panel (IRP) brought their recent findings and policy relevant messages, including those from the "Global Resources Outlook 2024", the co-chairs opinion piece "Enabling the energy transition" and upcoming work on Financing the Responsible Supply of Energy Transition Minerals for Sustainable Development, to a series of events at the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF).

Research by the IRP has found that the unsustainable use of natural resources lies at the heart of the triple planetary crisis. Resource efficiency and circular economy solutions are central to achieving our shared sustainability, climate, biodiversity and other goals.  

The IRP Co-Chair Janez Potočnik and IRP Panel Members Hans Bruyninckx and Paul Ekins took these messages to WCEF at several plenary sessions. The recordings are available online.

The International Resource Panel at the World Circular Economy Forum

Monday, 15 April: 

“Turning circular visions into actions”

11:00 - 12:00 (CEST)

  • Recording available here 

  • Organizers: International Resource Panel, Circle Economy Foundation and Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund

  • For more information, click here

Session description:   

The science is clear: material overconsumption is driving the planetary crisis. At the same time many people don’t meet basic well-being thresholds. How can we build a future where well-being soars without accelerating material consumption and its impacts? In the opening plenary, IRP Co-Chair Janez Potočnik presented the striking science of the Global Resources Outlook 2024.

 

“Material demand and solutions for the energy transition” 

13:30-19:45 (EAT)

  • Recording available here

  • Organizers: International Resource Panel, ICMM

  • For more information, click here

Session description:   

We need to simultaneously achieve the energy transition and decouple resource use from well-being. This session explored in depth the parallel policy actions required to do this: taking a holistic approach to manage the demand for transition materials in a sustainable manner and to call for responsible mining. IRP-Co Chair Janez Potočnik gave a key note speech and IRP Panel member Paul Ekins brought the finance and resources perspective into the debate with other experts.

 

“European and global perspectives on policy, investment and innovation” 

16:45-19:45 (CEST)

  • Recording available here

  • Organizers: Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, with the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment

  • For more information, click here

Session description:   

With increasing global demand for natural resources, the transition to a circular economy requires predictable and coherent regional and global policies which trigger innovation and investment. What kinds of policies are needed next to manage the growing demand for natural resources, such as critical raw materials, and how do businesses see the regulatory changes ahead? IRP Panel member Hans Bruyninckx discussed lock-ins, shifting the economy as a whole, and his vision for the future in the panel on the role of policy in the circular economy transition.

 

Photos below are taken by Marian Stanescu