Program April 17

Welcome by Örebro University Vice Chancellor Johan Schnürer.

Introduction by Director General Per Ängquist, Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI) and Professor Robert Barouki, Inserm-Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.

Bridging research and management gaps between biodiversity loss, climate change and chemical pollution

Moderated by Dr. Kateřina Šebková, Director of the National Centre of Toxic Compounds and of the Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for capacity building and the Transfer of Technology, Czech Republic.

Introduction to the session by Dr. Šebková. The focus is on the challenges in terms of climate impact, loss, and changes to biological diversity, as well as environmental pollution's health impact and effects on animals and nature and the way this contribute to a global social and health crisis. These challenges originate in a deeper societal crisis where man's overexploitation of nature and ecosystems for a long time has created the challenging situation that we now find ourselves in. There is thus a complex interactive dynamic between the societal crisis and the triplet of crises identified by UNEP which needs to be optimized through enhanced research to develop knowledge about how we balance the health of both people and ecosystems in a sustainable and equal society.

Panellists:

Johan Kuylenstierna (The Swedish Research Council Formas, Sweden), expert on climate change

Jana Klanova (Masaryk University, RECETOX, Brno, Czech Republic), expert on chemical pollution

Manolis Kogevinas (ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Spain), expert on human health and biodiversity loss.

Gerardo Sanchez, Expert in Environment and Health at European Environment Agency (EEA)

Riikka Paloniemi, Unit Director in Societal Change, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke); expert in biodiversity and sustainability transition.

10:30 – 11:00

Sustainable material flows: The case of renewable energy technologies

Moderated by Dr. Kateřina Šebková, Director of the National Centre of Toxic Compounds and of the Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for capacity building and the Transfer of Technology, Czech Republic

Introduction to the session by Professor Frans Prenkert (PSF, Örebro University). The focus is on the case of renewable energy technologies such as wind, sun, and batteries. How can the energy transition away from fossil fuels contribute to a circular economy starting from mining of metals and rare earth elements (REE), through refining, extraction and the safe production of materials and goods. What are the challenges in creating a circular system optimizing the reuse and recycling of battery metals and REE, as well as the chemicals used in refining and extraction, without jeopardising environment and health. What are the risks and goal conflicts in relation to a circular economy in the renewables energy sector?

Panellists:

Shane Colgan (The European Environmental Agency EEA, Copenhagen, Denmark), expert on circular economy and the environment

Samuel Carrara (scientific project officer, European Commission - Joint Research Centre), expert on raw materials and strategic supply chains.

Magnus Ericsson, (Adjunct Professor at Luleå Technical University and RMG, Luleå and Stockholm, Sweden) expert on mineral economics

Elin Bergman (COO and Chair of Cradlenet), expert on the circular economy.