PRESS INVITATION - World Resources Forum 2019 welcomes Her Majesty the Queen at the conference that launches circular economy as a solution for climate change

With over 60% of our carbon footprint being determined by how we use materials, the 2019 World Resources Forum focuses on putting the circular economy into practice.  From Sunday February 24th to Wednesday February 27th, Flanders Meeting & Convention Centre in Antwerp will become the global stage for a brand new view on lowering greenhouse gas emissions. From the keynote opening session to the introduction of innovative building passports, this global thought leadership event sets the Climate Agenda for 2030.  And with less than one week left before the start of the conference, co-organisers WRF and OVAM are honoured to announce that Her Majesty the Queen will be in attendance. 

Working towards a low-carbon economy

"Over 60% of greenhouse gas emissions can be directly linked to our materials footprint," says Jan Verheyen, spokesperson for the Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) and co-organiser of the WRF. "Reducing our materials footprint is a very important part of reducing our greenhouse gass emissions."  

A low-carbon economy is by definition a low-materials economy.  It is also a robust economy, in which loops are closed and materials retain their maximum value.  A policy built on circular economy will substantially contribute to slowing climate change as well as strengthening our economy as a whole. 

7 Messages about the Circular Economy and Climate Change

OVAM has published a comprehensive study on how material efficient design, production, reuse, repair and recycling, offer new solutions for this global question.  You can download the abridged white paper here.

WRF Wake Up session about sustainability 

On Tuesday, the WRF will host a Wake Up session on sustainability. 

Managing Director Bas de Leeuw: "In the world of the social media and sometimes on the street it looks like sustainability is controversial and difficult.  But piles of reports and analyses are showing the opposite.  What can and should be done to make the case to the public and the politicians?  I believe that the scientific community, the research institutes and think tanks also should get louder and make the noise that fits the emergency."

The American environmentalist and human rights activist Dianne Dillon-Ridgley will make sure to get the best insights out of Sandrine Dixson-Declѐve, the new Co-President of the Club of Rome, and Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director of the European Environmental Agency.  All three are renowned leaders in the sustainability world, and known for the fact that they are not shy in saying what needs to be said.

UNEP Lifestyle report

If the world is to keep climate change at manageable levels before the middle of the century, changes in lifestyles are not only inevitable, but would need to be radical and start very soon. Considering current consumption levels, citizens in many industrialized countries would have to cut their lifestyle carbon footprints by about 80-90% or more, and some in emerging economies by about 30-80% within the next 30 years. This is one of the key messages coming from the study “1.5-Degree Lifestyles: Targets and options for reducing lifestyle carbon footprints” - conducted by Japanese research institute IGES in collaboration with Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra - that will be launched at the World Resource Forum.

VIP Guests

OVAM and WRF are honoured that Her Majesty the Queen - in her capacity as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocate - will be in joining on Monday, February 25th for the conference opening session.

The Flemish Minister for the Environment, Koen Van den Heuvel, will give a keynote speech during the opening session of the 2019 WRF conference.

Recupel E-Loop Challenge

Over the course of the conference, a three-day bootcamp will be organized during which students from all around the world will brainstorm about possible solutions to prevent, eradicate and recycle e-waste. 15 students have been selected out of 1,800 applicants. Right after the opening session, these bright young minds will have a meet-and-greet with Her Majesty the Queen.   

NOTE TO PRESS

Members of the press are welcome to attend the opening session on February 25th from 9h30 until 11h00, at the end of which the international students taking on the Recupel E-Loop Challenge will get to meet Her Majesty the Queen. At 11h00, a press conference will be held by OVAM spokesperson Jan Verheyen and WRF Managing Director Bas De Leeuw, during which, among other things, the UNEP Lifestyle report will be presented.

The visit of Her Majesty the Queen presents a unique photo opportunity. Press are asked to register their interest in attending this meet-and-greet ahead of time. Please contact barbara@theovaloffice.be or call +32 479 93 22 82.