SESSION D4 / 16 May 2024 / 11:30 - 12:30
Workshop: Role of young people in Circular Economy
Chair / Presidente: Ian Williams (UK)
We all know that our modern society faces many pressing problems, one of which is the development of a sustainable approach to waste (resource) management. Modern society involves consumption on a massive scale, and this leads to massive resource use and massive waste generation. Enabling effective resource management requires appropriate infrastructure, service provision and active public engagement, and this is hugely challenging. Many political, environmental, social, technological, legal, and economic approaches have been trialed, but only slow progress has been achieved. It is a cliché, but it is certainly true that “young people are our future.” The waste (resource) management community is good at organizing conferences to discuss and debate the complex (usually technical) aspects that influence how we manage our wastes (resources). But could we do more with and for our younger colleagues? Maybe we could listen to their viewpoints and perspectives better, with “more constructive ears”? Maybe we could help them better with their careers? Maybe we could learn from them, and support their progressive ideas with more energy and vigour? This workshop will highlight that young waste management researchers/professionals have valuable insights to offer to their older counterparts. It will offer a forum for discussion on how the voices of young waste managers can be heard, and acted upon, and how older professionals can help to address the challenges faced by younger colleagues
