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Conference Programme

“Sustainable Lifestyle, Livelihoods and the Circular Economy” 
 
27-29 June 2017, Brighton, University of Sussex, United Kingdom

​Final Programme

Conference organiser: Global Research Forum on Sustainable Production and Consumption (GRF-SPaC)

Hosted by: Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex

Co-organisers: Tearfund, EU SWITCH-Asia Programme, SCORAI Europe, MORE-SL Initiative of the 10YFP Sustainable Lifestyles and Education Programme, and Aalborg University

Contributing partners: Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP), Earth System Governance Project, World Resources Forum, Future Earth, SCORAI US, African Circular Economy Network

Opening
​Patrick Schröder, Research Fellow, Green Transformations, Institute of Development Studies, Conference Co-Chair - Welcome
Melissa Leach, Director, Institute of Development Studies - Official conference opening address
Manisha Anantharaman, Assistant Professor in Justice, Community and Leadership, St. Mary's College, Conference Co-Chair - Welcome from the Global Research Forum on Sustainable Production and Consumption (GRF-SPaC)
Richard Gower, Senior Policy Advisor, Tearfund - Welcome from conference co-organizer
Uwe Weber​, Team Leader, SWITCH-Asia - Welcome from conference co-organizer

Day 1: Session 1 (morning)

Circular Economy and SCP in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals and climate change
This session explores the interconnections between the circular economy, sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Some of the questions explored in the sessions include: What contribution can the circular economy make towards achieving the SDGs? What are the implications of the circular economy for livelihoods and sustainable lifestyles? What are the respective roles of the circular economy and sustainable lifestyles in achieving the 1.5 degree climate mitigation target?

Keynote speaker
Janez Potočnik, former EU Environment Commissioner, Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel, "Economic Model Transformation and the Role of the Circular Economy" followed by a brief Q&A

Plenary discussion panel and Q&A
John Carstensen, Head of Profession, Climate and Environment, Department For International Development, UK
Lewis Akenji, Policy Fellow, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
Jeffrey Barber, President, Integrative Strategies Forum
Moderator: Joanne Green, Senior Associate, Tearfund

Followed by breakout sessions and paper presentations

Day 1: Session 2 (afternoon)

Brexit and the future of the EU Circular Economy Package in the UK

Plenary discussion panel and Q&A
Baroness Shas Sheehan, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Department for International Development, House of Lords
Janez Potočnik, former EU Environment Commissioner, Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel
Dustin Benton, Acting Policy Director, Green Alliance
L Alan Winters, Professor of Economics, University of Sussex, Director UK Trade Policy Observatory, moderator

Circular economy - informal sector, SMEs and livelihoods in developing country contexts
The informal sector in developing countries contributes significantly towards making a circular economy possible in both cities and rural areas, but its role is often neglected in discussions about the circular economy. The plenary and breakout sessions investigate issues around employment opportunities, decent working conditions, health, education and the fight against poverty. Questions explored include: How can the circular economy generate new employment opportunities, contribute to poverty reduction and promote sustainable livelihoods? How can small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries be supported in the shift to a circular economy? 

Keynote speaker
Sonia Dias, Waste Sector Specialist, Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)
Plenary discussion panel and Q&A
Uwe Weber, Team Leader, SWITCH-Asia Network Facility
Olayiwola Agoro, Chief Scientific Officer at Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Nigeria 
Nalini Shekar, Founder & Director, Hasiru Dala, Bangalore
Richard Gower, Senior Policy Advisor, Tearfund
Moderator: Manisha Anatharaman, Assistant Professor in Justice, Community and Leadership, St. Mary's College

Followed by breakout sessions and paper presentations

Drinks Reception - sponsored by the SWITCH-Asia Programme 

Day 2: Session 1 (morning)

Circular economy, lifestyles and livelihoods in cities
How can the circular economy enable cities to become sustainable and create inclusive communities? The plenary and breakout sessions explore challenges and opportunities of the circular economy concept in relation to urban development and the interaction with lifestyles and livelihoods in cities in both industrialized and developing countries. They assess how different concepts of the circular economy are used in urban contexts, in the transformation of infrastructure, in architectural innovations, and investigate the role of sharing economy initiatives.

Opening
Tim Foxon, Professor of Sustainability Transitions, Science and Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex - Welcome

Keynote speaker
Jacqueline Cramer, former Dutch Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, Chair of Sustainability and Innovation, Utrecht University, "The Urban Transition Towards a Circular Economy: Theory and Practice"

Plenary discussion panel and Q&A
Joanna Williams, Senior Lecturer, The Bartlett School of Planning, University College London
Kira Matus, Visiting Associate Professor, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Duncan Baker-Brown, Director & Owner, BBM Sustainable Design Ltd & Senior Lecturer, University of Brighton
Moderator: Michael Søgaard Jørgensen, Associate Professor, Aalborg University

Followed by breakout sessions and paper presentations

Day 2: Session 2 (afternoon)

Sustainable lifestyles, business models and social innovation in the circular economy
This session focuses on the roles of new business models, social innovation, changing cultural norms and consumers in the circular economy. What is the role of new business models, social innovations and the blending of consumer-producer interfaces for the transition to a circular economy? How important are consumer preferences, lifestyle choices and consumer practices? And what are the implications for consumer rights protection and democratisation of resources?

Keynote speaker
Jocelyn Blériot, Executive Officer, Head of Editorial and Public Affairs, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Plenary discussion panel and Q&A
Michael Kuhndt, Executive Director, Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production
Karen Onthank, Executive Director, lntegrative Strategies Forum
Josephine Mylan, Research Fellow, Sustainable Consumption Institute, University of Manchester
Moderator: Vanessa Timmer, Executive Director, One Earth​

Followed by breakout sessions and paper presentations

Conference dinner
Marlyne Sahakian, Senior Researcher, UNIL - University of Lausanne, host of the dinner and cultural show / open mic

Day 3: Session 1 (morning)

Critiquing the circular economy
This session focuses on critical perspectives on the circular economy. Where does the circular economy stand in relation to alternative concepts and current academic debates on post-consumerism and de-growth? How can the circular economy better integrate socio-institutional change to achieve cooperation and provide quality employment? Does the circular economy offer prospects for a different economic paradigm and alternative development strategies? Or does the circular economy divert attention from difficult decisions about absolute reductions in natural resource and energy use?

Keynote speakers
Barbara Muraca, Assistant Professor - Philosophy, Oregon State University
Kersty Hobson, Senior Lecturer, School of Planning and Geography, Cardiff University

Plenary discussion panel and Q&A
Barbara Muraca, Assistant Professor - Philosophy, Oregon State University
Kersty Hobson, Senior Lecturer, School of Planning and Geography, Cardiff University
Philip Vergragt, Fellow, Tellus Institute, Professor Emeritus of Technology Assessment at Delft University of Technology, Research Professor at Clark University
Moderator: Jeffrey Barber, President, Integrative Strategies Forum

Followed by breakout sessions, workshops and paper presentations

Day 3: Session 2 (afternoon)

​Closing 
Vanessa Timmer, Executive Director, One Earth, Conference Summary
Jeffrey Barber, President, Integrative Strategies Forum, Next Steps for GRF
Patrick Schröder, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies, Closing Remarks
Moderator: Leonie Dendler, Researcher, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment