ERSCP 2014 Themes
The following main themes will form the framework of the 17th ERSCP:
- Improvements in Resource efficiency, sustainable production and design
- Experiences with sustainable/smart cities and communities
- Sustainable Consumption and Food Waste Prevention
- New initiatives in Education for Sustainable Development
- Results of Sustainability Innovations Research and Development
- Exciting High-tech for Sustainability in Industries
- Challenges for making progress in cross cutting themes including green and inclusive entrepreneurship and sustainable, ethical investments
Improvements in Resource efficiency, sustainable production and design
The following issues will be covered:- pollution prevention
- cleaner production
- process intensification
- voluntary approaches
- resource efficiency
- energy and mass integration
- co- and poly-generation
- renewable sources
- industrial ecology
- circular economy
- supply and value chain optimization
- zero waste
- waste minimization
- design for environment
- eco-design
- sustainable product-service systems
- (eco)design for sustainability
- integrated pollution prevention and control
- best available techniques
- best practices and case studies
- environmental management systems
- and corporate reporting
Experiences with sustainable/smart cities and communities
Cities and communities are contributing to unsustainable consumption patterns and hence have a significant impact on the environment. Sustainable, "smart" cities and communities concept uses an integrated approach that encompasses innovative, sustainable and inclusive dimensions of an intelligent city, ensuring that natural resources are produced, processed and consumed in a more environmentally sustainable way, simultaneously integrating information and communication technologies, public services, local economy, and social life into urban infrastructure aiming at sustainable urban management and better living conditions.Sustainable Consumption and Food Waste Prevention
The following issues will be covered:- environmental policy
- triple bottom line
- decoupling
- environmental law and ethics
- changing life-styles and personal behaviour
- footprints
- partnerships
- global cooperation
- industrial-regional symbiosis
- social responsibility
- ecological economics
- externalities
- green purchasing
- eco-labelling
- passive buildings
- water stress
- sustainability indicators
- food
- mobility
- sustainable tourism
- grass-root innovations
- collaborative consumption
- sharing economy
- design for sustainable behaviour
- sustainable well-being
New initiatives in Education for Sustainable Development
To achieve sustainability, education and life-long learning present prerequisites. Especially, education for sustainable development, which is learning about values, attitudes, lifestyles needed for a sustainable future of world societies. It means including key sustainable development issues, e.g. climate change, poverty reduction, and sustainable consumption into teaching and learning. Such an education requires participatory teaching and learning methods that motivate and empower learners to change their behaviour and take action for sustainable development.Results of Sustainability Innovations Research and Development
Globalization is transferring industrial working places from developed countries to developing nations, debts are lowering investment potential in many countries, and extinction of resources is requiring improved competitiveness, higher productivity and value added. The only way to maintain sustainable development in developed countries is innovation leadership. This encompasses:- sustainable innovation management strategies
- culture of innovation
- open innovation
- green and inclusive start-ups
- social innovations
- green innovation systems
- system innovations
- sustainability transitions
- stakeholder involvement
- early stage financing
Exciting High-tech for Sustainability in Industries
The following issues will be covered:- sustainable technologies – opportunities and solutions for industry
- cloud computing and ICT innovation of industries
- engineering for sustainable development
- innovations in sustainability and transfer into market opportunities
Challenges for making progress in cross cutting themes including green and inclusive entrepreneurship and sustainable, ethical investments
The following issues will be covered:- sustainable ethics
- climate change
- social responsibility
- horizon 2020
- sustainability vision
- green growth
- and importance for the CEOs
