The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) co-organised, from 9 to 10 February 2017, the conference "International cooperation on natural resources: geoscientists' contribution to enhanced governance, policy making and attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals". The event was held at the Royal Belgium Institute of Natural Sciences, a venue located only a few hundred meters away from the European Parliament, and was supported by a broad range of European and international organisations. Nearly 100 participants from across Europe and abroad attended the event whose international character was also displayed through a broad geographical representation on a programme conveying views from Europe, South Africa, the United States of America and Canada.
The second session of the first day was dedicated to a panel of experts who debated on the importance of excellence in the use of natural resources classification systems in management and reporting. High-level speakers from the European Commission, the UNECE, CRIRSCO, PERC, Geoscientists Canada and the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) insisted on the importance of international dialogue in times when nationalism and protectionism are rising. In this regard, it was emphasised that public outreach, transparency and the development of a common language are becoming ever more important. The different experts also insisted on the main qualities of the reporters' profiles: competence, experience and constant training.
On the second day of the conference, representatives from industry and EFG’s expert groups analysed the application of the UNFC reporting standard to the field of oil and gas, CO2 geological storage, minerals and – since 2016 – to the field of geothermal energy. The importance of UNFC as an umbrella classification system providing a common language applicable to the different sectors of natural resources was underlined. Roger Dixon, South African representative on the Committee for Mineral Reserve International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO) outlined the synergies between the UNFC-2009 standard and the CRIRSCO International Reporting Template, demonstrating how the Mineralised Inventory can be managed using UNFC.
The conference closed with a panel discussion on socio-economic and environmental drivers for natural resources development and management. Alex Nwegbu, President of the Organisation of African Geological Societies (OAGS), presented his institution's views on sustainable management of mineral resources in Africa. Other high-level speakers underlined that Development Minerals should be part of Africa's industrialisation and that artisanal mining represents the majority of mining in Africa. The panel agreed that education, skill development and best practice schemes are key to link the exploitation of natural resources to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and that geoscientists can play a progressive role in this respect.
Martin Bohle, Advisor to the Deputy Director-General at the European Commission's DG Research and Innovation and Corresponding Citizen Scientist of the International Association for Promoting Geoethics, officially closed the conference stressing the importance of public outreach and transparency.
Read the Press Release in the EFG website:
http://eurogeologists.eu/2017/02/14/efg-and-the-unece-gather-international-experts-to-discuss-cooperation-on-natural-resources/
Photogallery of this event at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B8beo_4kzgPDVWNMckdwV2JqZ0E
About EFG: The European Federation of Geologists is a non-governmental organisation that was established in 1980 and includes today 25 national association members. EFG is a professional organisation whose main aims are to contribute to a safer and more sustainable use of the natural environment, to protect and inform the public and to promote a more responsible exploitation of natural resources. EFG’s members are National Associations whose principal objectives are based in similar aims. The guidelines to achieve these aims are the promotion of excellence in the application of geology and the creation of public awareness of the importance of geoscience for the society.
About UNECE: The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) was set up in 1947 by ECOSOC. It is one of five regional commissions of the United Nations. UNECE's major aim is to promote pan-European economic integration. UNECE includes 56 member States in Europe, North America and Asia. However, all interested United Nations member States may participate in the work of UNECE. Over 70 international professional organizations and other non-governmental organizations take part in UNECE activities.
This event has been supported by the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRISCO), the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE), EuroGeoSurveys, the Geological Society of Africa (GSAf), the Pan European Mineral Reserves and Resources Reporting Committee (PERC) and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
More information about EFG and UNECE: www.eurogeologists.eu and https://www.unece.org
Media contact:
EFG Executive Director Isabel Fernández Fuentes (isabel.fernandez@eurogeologists.eu) and EFG Communication Officer Anita Stein (anita.stein@eurogeologists.eu).
IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics:
http://www.geoethics.org