Multi-stakeholder dialogue to foster sustainable raw materials management in Europe
The European Commission FP7 COBALT (Contributing to building of awareness, learning and transfer of knowledge on sustainable use of raw materials) project set out to identify the best ways to manage raw materials sustainably, provide information on future innovation efforts, and support the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials. COBALT focused on meeting the needs of both EU industry and civil society by addressing four key issues: security of supply, growth in substitution and higher value markets, use of raw materials with high environmental and social impacts, and skills shortages in raw materials management. Opening and closing conferences helped to advance knowledge exchange and debate on existing challenges and future possibilities concerning the sustainable management of raw materials in Europe and beyond. Six European and Regional dialogue meetings further strengthened the exchange of local, regional and national perspectives between civil society and industry actors. Following the events, 10 recommendations for effective multi-stakeholder dialogue (The COBALT Declaration), 8 policy briefs and a series of reports were drawn up. These strategic documents emphasise lessons learnt on structures, methods and requirements for successful dialogue. They also identify relevant issues in key thematic areas along the whole raw materials value chain that need further attention. Project partners addressed existing raw materials skills shortages among different stakeholders by delivering a series of reports that highlight existing skill shortages, available courses, and draft course syllabi such as university curricula or layman’s and professional courses. COBALT provided a valuable platform for mutual dialogue and raised societal awareness of adverse social and environmental impacts of raw material supply and use, and of opportunities related to sustainable raw materials management. In that sense, it strengthened and facilitated multi-stakeholder dialogue in the EU programmes such as the European Innovation Partnership and the Circular Economy Package.
Keywords
Sustainable management, raw materials, stakeholder dialogue, resource efficiency
