The WRF 2025 programme features a dynamic mix of in-person and online activities. The in-person programme will take place on 2-3 September in Geneva, including plenary keynotes and panel debates, partner-led sessions, scientific sessions, an exhibition area and networking activities. Plenary sessions in Geneva will be livestreamed globally free of charge. On 4-5 September, online scientific sessions and partner-led activities will take place.
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Nasra Nanda will highlight “Sustainability from the South,” showing how Africa’s urban agenda can reimagine the built environment through justice and equitable opportunity. She brings perspectives on reshaping cities to meet social and environmental goals in rapidly urbanising regions. Learn more.
Hubert Rhomberg, CEO and Founder of CREE Buildings will showcase how industrialized, prefabricated, timber-hybrid construction systems can cut waste, reduce emissions, and speed up sustainable building delivery. He advocates rethinking capital deployment to treat sustainability not as a cost, but as a value driver—enhancing health, approval timelines, and long-term returns. Learn more.
To achieve fair and sustainable resource use, we must shift from supply-centric models to demand-driven approaches that reconfigure the systems through which societies meet their needs. This means transforming provisioning systems—such as those for food and mobility. Demand-driven strategies rooted in circularity and sufficiency can reduce overconsumption, elevate underconsumption, and promote equity and well-being. By focusing on systemic change rather than individual behaviour, and by designing inclusive policies that reflect diverse needs and aspirations, we can reshape demand to align with planetary boundaries and social justice.
The panel explores the critical tensions and opportunities surrounding deep‑sea mining as global demand for critical raw materials intensifies. It will spotlight the environmental sensitivities of deep‑sea ecosystems, the gaps in scientific understanding, and the evolving international governance landscape. The goal is to foster constructive, interdisciplinary dialogue on how to balance resource needs with long‑term ecological protection. Learn more
Rising material demand, growing e-waste, and increasing energy consumption are putting pressure on the electronics sector amid rapid digitalisation. Circular design, advanced recycling, and smarter material strategies offer ways to reduce reliance on raw resources and minimise environmental impact. Energy challenges from AI, electric vehicles, and data centers call for integrated approaches addressing both materials and energy use. A key question remains: can the digital economy grow sustainably without rethinking the resource foundations that support it? Learn more
How can trade systems adapt to ensure both secure access to resources and a sustainable future? This session explores how new trade models, governance frameworks, and inclusive global cooperation—especially with the Global South—are essential to align supply security with climate and equity goals. Learn more
This session explores global strategies to transform the built environment in support of climate, resource, and equity goals. It will examine how circular design, responsible construction, and inclusive planning can reduce environmental impacts while addressing housing needs and infrastructure gaps—particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. Learn more
Transparency in plastic value chains remains a major barrier to achieving a circular economy. While digital tools for material traceability such as digital product passports and blockchain-based systems are advancing, their implementation often lacks inclusivity and global alignment. This session explores current approaches to tracking plastic materials across product life cycles and evaluates their implications for stakeholders in the Global South.
Building on a forthcoming publication led by the Wuppertal Institute and commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUKN), the session will provide an overview of key technologies, highlight strengths and limitations. It will also discuss the role of traceability in international negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty.
Speakers:
Join the session with this link: Webinar Link (MS Teams)
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) plays a vital role in mineral extraction worldwide. Characterized by low capital investment and labour-intensive methods, it is often carried out in remote areas and provides an important source of non-farm income in rural regions across Africa, Asia, and South America. Beyond its economic significance, ASM has far-reaching social, environmental, and ecological implications. Environmental concerns in particular affect the health and quality of life of mine workers, local communities, and future generations. Three key pillars define the study of ASM: environmental stewardship, occupational health, and domestic revenue mobilization. Applying fair-trade principles offers one pathway to progressively improve working conditions and sustainability, while also addressing the social impacts, economic contributions, and the critical role of women in ASM. This session will shed light on these complex dynamics and explore how ASM can move towards more sustainable and fair practices.
Speakers:
Join the session with this link: Webinar Link (Zoom)
This session is organised by Cerege and Aix Université Marseille.
