Limits to growth or circular economy
Description
The Board of the Philosophy and Engineering Department has the pleasure of inviting you to Prof Dr D.J. Koch's lecture on 13 September next.
Professor Dirk Jan Koch is a diplomat, writer, and social scientist, and is deeply committed to a fair, sustainable, prosperous and stable world. Koch is currently focusing on the sustainability and security of supply of metals and minerals, with transparency playing an essential role.
Koch is associate professor of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Radboud University in Nijmegen. He focuses on the intended and unintended effects of international cooperation. He is the author of several well-received books and articles on natural resources, international development and diplomacy. His work has appeared in French, English, Catalan, German, and Dutch.
Lecture summary:
The Club of Rome predicted 45 years ago that the limits of economic growth were in sight. Were they wrong? There are now more than 7 billion of us and economic growth continues steadily: are there enough resources after all? In this talk, Dirk-Jan Koch will show that there are indeed limits to growth: more and more conflicts, corruption and climate change accompany the extraction of raw materials. That is why the Netherlands is trying to make the switch to the circular economy. This should be complete by 2050 according to the government-wide circular economy programme, which would eliminate the need for primary raw materials. This is an illusion: raw materials are also needed for the circular economy. It is therefore important that this extraction of raw materials - of cobalt for batteries, for example - is done in a responsible way.
Prior to the lecture, the general annual meeting of the Philosophy and Engineering Department will be held. This meeting will start at 17:30. A sandwich meal will be served for members attending the meeting.
You can indicate on the website whether you want to participate in the meal.
The agenda, the draft minutes of the 2016 annual meeting, the financial report and budget 2017 and the secretary's report can be found on the F&T website.
Of course, you can also attend the lecture only, which starts at 7pm.
With kind regards and looking forward to seeing you on 13 September!
ir. Johan Hengst,
Secretary Department of Philosophy & Engineering
Location
Vredenburg 19, 3511 BB Utrecht
Organiser
Philosophy & Technology
Name and contact details for information
Johan Hengst