Sustainable Resources 2004

An International Forum Connecting People with Hands-on Solutions to World Poverty

September 27 - October 5
Boulder, Colorado

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Why Sustainable Resources 2004?

With a current population of 6 billion, the world is becoming a place in which human populations are more crowded, more consuming, more polluting, more connected, and in many ways less diverse than at any time in history. In the next two decades, almost 2 billion additional people are expected to populate the Earth, a number roughly equivalent to the world’s total population in 1940. It is estimated that 95% of that growth will take place in developing or under-developed countries. Such growth will create demands on an unprecedented scale for energy, food, land, water, transportation, materials, waste disposal, earth moving, health care, environmental cleanup, infrastructure, jobs, new skills, new opportunities, and security. Today, 20% of the world’s population lack clean water, 40% lack adequate sanitation, 20% lack adequate housing, 50% lack adequate energy resources, and 30% live in conflict zones, in transition, or in situations of permanent instability.

The scale of the global problems that planet Earth is facing today and is likely to face in the future requires a more global way of thinking and a long-term approach. Quoting Albert Einstein, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when they were created". As important as international aid programs are, many community problems in the developing world cannot be solved by short-term international aid programs. Decisions need to be made at various levels (global, regional, local, and individual) and over different time scales. They also need to be made in a non-competing environment that is more multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary than ever before and with a mindset that embraces the principles of sustainability, renewable resources, appropriate technology, and system thinking. Finally, the decisions need to be made by a wide range of partnering organizations, all sharing the common goal of improving the quality of life and ensuring productive work for ALL people on Earth through implementation of environmentally and economically sustainable projects that preserve and protect natural and cultural diversity.

What to Expect?

Sustainable Resources 2004 will provide a new platform of exchange where poverty issues faced by the developing world can be addressed globally and solved locally. The overall technical program of the conference is designed around the Millennium Development Goals selected by the United Nations on September 18, 2000.

Sustainable Resources 2004 will provide unique opportunities for non-profits, NGOs, donors, funding agencies, humanitarian organizations, educators, engineers, business people, volunteers, students, and representatives of developing communities to meet, learn from each other, network, discuss new approaches for outreach, and create new partnerships. Such organizations have not traditionally interacted in the past.

Sustainable Resources 2004 will provide a “meeting of the mind” and a platform for multidisciplinary exchange. It will also help develop recommendations toward a cooperative action plan in the areas of concern to the developing world.

Sustainable Resources 2004 will consist of a combination of keynote lectures, technical and non-technical presentations, case studies, cooperative problem solving, workshops on the major issues facing developing communities: water, sanitation, infrastructure, energy, shelter, health and hygiene, economic development, security, strategy, whole systems design, food and nutrition, social and cultural concerns, communications, and environment.

Workshops will focus on generating cooperative partnerships that can more effectively accomplish each organization's goals. Exhibition space will be available for participants to showcase their projects, services, or products. One of the goals of the forum is to establish a collaborative marketplace where participants can match their skills and needs to work more effectively for sustainable development. A summary report will be prepared.