Past activities

2013: First Conference of Natural Resources and Development in Viña del Mar, Chile

The First Conference of Natural Resources and Development called “Food, water and energy security: integrated science for sustainability” was held in Viña del Mar, Chile, from 25th of 29th of November. The conference was jointly organized by CNRD and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and brought together more than 120 participants from all continents, representing the academic world, governmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector. Main aim of the conference was the dissemination and scientific exchange of updated knowledge on the food, water and energy nexus including its linkages to ecosystem management and disaster risk reduction.

Key topics of the conference were poverty reduction and safe food supplies, social and cultural development, access to basic resources and shelter, integrated water resources management, land use dynamics and biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, as well as energy efficiency and renewable resources. Impressive keynote speeches were given by Marcos Cisternas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Mary C. Comerio, University of California at Berkeley, Martin Coy, University of Innsbruck, Hartmut Gaese, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Francisco Meza, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and Conor Skehan, Dublin Institute of Technology. The conference was complemented by a lively round table discussion and an exciting excursion to the Aconcagua Valley. Due to its great success, the CNRD members decided to organize a second conference with a regional focus in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, in 2014.

2014: International Conference „Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Goals for Latin America“

In 2015, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will continue in a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the UN development agenda beyond 2015. The United Nations have initiated an intense process to define the SDG topics through open working groups. In its second funding phase (2015-2019), the Center of Natural Resources and Development (CNRD) will actively accompany the ongoing process in the fields of higher education, research, and capacity building.

The second CNRD international conference, which took place in San Luis Potosí, Mexico from 2-4 September 2014, was dedicated to the UN post-2015 development agenda and in particular to the SDGs for Latin America. More than 100 scientists and representatives from (N)GOs and the private sector from various countries presented and discussed topics under the SDG umbrella, such as water management, sustainable cities, disaster risk reduction, renewable energies, agroforestry systems as well as sustainable consumption and industrial production. The program included plenary lectures, oral and poster presentations, discussion forums and field trips. Due to the great efforts of the Mexican conference organizers, the conference was a great success and an important step towards better integrating universities in the post-2015 process.