Tagungsankündigungen

Leipzig, October 31 - November 2, 2002

Introduction

Regional economy as a concept for sustainable development has raised a lot of interest among researchers and policy makers in the last years. But how can economic concepts at the regional level actually be implemented? Where do regional cycles make sense? How can European Regions learn from each other? The International Conference: "Regional Cycles - Regional economy towards Sustainability" aims to find answers to these questions, and to enliven the interdisciplinary debate on sustainable regional economic activities in Europe. The theme "Regional Cycles" should hereby be understood in a wide sense, including financial, substance and material cycles and their regionalisation.

The conference is organised on behalf of the German Ministry of Education and Research.

Conference Objectives

The Conference aims to: 

• Present international experts with the Status Quo of the research in the field of regional approaches to sustainability with a focus on economic activities. Decision-makers and practitioners from local, regional and national authorities as well as international experts, researchers, business representatives, consultants and further interested persons are invited to attend. 
• Encourage a dialogue and the exchange of experience between the different actors with the objective of discussing and contingently identifying factors for success as well as necessary framework conditions. Furthermore, it aims to provide a stage to facilitate and stimulate the establishment of contacts that will lead to future international research co-operation. The establishment of research networks will be supported.

During the Conference participants will have the opportunity to visit EUREGIA, "the Congress and Specialist Exhibition for sustainable regional development in Europe". More information can be found at http://www.euregia-leipzig.de

Conference Themes

At the conference innovative proposals will be presented, which may include case studies, research results, roundtable discussions and networking activities. The main topics addressed are: 

• Regional Substance Flow Management and the Re-use of Waste
• Agriculture, Consumer Producer Cooperations and Regional Marketing, Sustainable Use of Regional Potentials
• Traffic Prevention via Regional Cooperation
• Regional Business and Innovation Networks
• Promotion of new forms of Employment via Regional Co-operation
• Regionalisation and Globalisation as parallel movements
• Corporate Citizenship at the Regional and Local level
• New Forms of Governance: Alliances Between Different Levels of Government
• Regional Agenda 21
• Public Tendering and Concessions as Instruments for Political Steering in Regions
• Eco-Industrial Parks
• National and European Framework Conditions for Sustainable Regions
• International Partnerships Between Regions
• Indicators and Standards for Sustainable Economic Activities within Regions

Contact

The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
European Secretariat
Eco-Procurement Programme and Eco-efficient Economy (EPP)
Christoph Erdmenger, Director
Eschholzstr. 86
79115 Freiburg
Tel.: +49 (0) 7 61 / 36 892 - 41 (Secretariat - 0)
E-Mail: christoph erdmengerOpg9∂iclei-europe org
Internet: http://www.iclei.org/economy

Up to date information on the conference can be found at:
http://www.regional-sustainability.de