NRP 73 contributes to the World Resources Forum 2019

Headlined "Making Natural Resource Governance Fit for the 21st Century", the World Resources Forum 2019 (WRF 2019) was held in Geneva on 23 and 24 October 2019.

NRP 73 organised a workshop on the subject of sustainability and trade relations featuringfour research projects. Researchers from the Francois, Bernauer, Mutel and Bürgi projects presented their initial results, and discussed approaches to making international trade relations more sustainable with representatives of the federal administration, the WTO and Nestlé Nespresso. The most important messages are:

• International trade tends to shift ecological and social burdens onto less developed countries. At the same time, trade with these countries can help promote clean technologies and a sustainable economies.
• We need more publicly accessible data so that we can calculate external effects – what are known as externalities – and trace them back along supply chains, especially with regard to the monitoring of emissions and resource use.
• Fair, non-discriminatory and effective clauses in trade agreements, such as tariff preferences, can facilitate sustainable development.

In addition, Gunter Stephan gave a key note speech on "Intergenerational fairness and sustainability". He encouragedcurrent generations to invest in the future and build a system of intergenerational transfers. The examples he cited were the CO₂ levy tax, an incentive tax on primary resources and tax reduction for sustainable investments.

The WRF 2019 was moderated by Barbara Dubach together with chief executive Bas de Leeuw. The forum also saw Sandor Czellar from the University of Lausanne present his research project "Environmental identity and sustainable consumption", whileKarolin Frankenberger, University of St. Gallen, and Patrick Wäger, Empa presented at poster stands, where they discussed their work with approximately 300 participants.

The key messages and demands of WRF 2019 are:

• Natural resource extraction and processing are responsible for approx. 50% of climate change and for approx. 90% of biodiversity loss.
• Ambitious, international rules for better natural resource governance are needed, along with basic parameters that facilitate innovation at local, national and international level.
• It is essential that we promote new technologies, increase our investment in renewable energies and exploit the potential of digitalisation.