58 Resource Management Universities Sign World Sustainability Forum Declaration in Freiberg (Germany)

FREIBERG, GERMANY--(Marketwire - Jun 12, 2012) - Last night representatives from 58 international resource management universities from 39 countries signed a declaration to secure a sustainable use of the world's natural resources at the Saxon mining academy, TU Bergakademie, in Freiberg. During the opening event the signatories resolved to establish a permanent world forum of resource management universities.

The next world forum has been scheduled for next year in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Russian mining university took the initiative in establishing this forum together with the mining academy TU Bergakademie Freiberg on the occasion of the 20^th anniversary of the Rio Environmental Conference.

In several workshops the academic representatives discussed society's role in developing a new awareness for natural resources and ways in which the universities could intensify their co-operation. Agreement was reached on defining joint training standards and establishing new international study courses on sustainable natural resource processes.

Prof Bernd Meyer, vice chancellor of the mining academy TU Bergakademie Freiberg, pointed out that, "The unparalleled growth in the worldwide demand for natural resources will lead to new dimensions in the adverse effects on the environment, society and the global economy." Meyer also emphasised the leading role of the resource management universities in "asserting the principle of sustainability in research and training."

According to Prof Johan Einar Hustad from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, "Knowledge is the key to securing a sustainable use of our natural resources. That is why we wholeheartedly support this world forum."

The declaration adopted under the auspices of Prof Annette Schavan, German Federal Research Minister, provides for a whole catalogue of tasks to be completed by the next conference.

The next twelve months will see the establishment of an executive committee of representatives from all continents. The office of the world forum will be set up in Freiberg.

Link to full version: http://goo.gl/x1xFm

The TU Bergakademie Freiberg in Saxony, the German resource management university, teaches and conducts research in the sustainable and efficient use of natural resources and energy in the four topics geo, material, energy and ecology. The university will be celebrating its 250^th anniversary in the year 2015.