Upcoming // Dresden Nexus Conference 2017: Over 400 International Experts Discuss the Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources

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 clarified sewage sludge and sewage sludge in the Caribbean have in common? UNU-FLORES, 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. Over 400 participants from all over the world will meet in the Deutsches Hygiene Museum Dresden from 17 to 19 May to exchange ideas on the Nexus Approach that is the integrated management of different environmental resources. The conference 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, Institut für Natur- und Ressourcenschutz,
• Ambassador Csaba Kőrösi, Office of the President of the Republic of Hungary, Head of Directorate for Environmental Sustainability, Co-Chair of UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals,
• Prof. Luca Montanarella, Europäische Kommission – Joint Research Centre, European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC),
• 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.

More Information

Conference website Source: Press release by UNU-FLORES