About Us
Changes in demographics, urbanisation and climate are significantly impacting the availability and use of environmental resources such as energy, water and land. Traditional approaches to resource management ignore the interconnectedness of environmental resources, treating them in isolation rather than in combination. That is, they ignore how the use of and alterations to one environmental resource impacts others. In light of the dynamic conditions influencing resource management, sustainable development requires new integrated strategies.
However, the complex relations between demands, resource availability and quality, and financial and physical constraints can only be considered through knowledge-based policies and professional practice. Sustainable resource management methods need to go beyond static input-output models and engage with the complexity of the interconnected Earth System. In other words, ensuring human health and well-being and sustainable development for all requires a change in mindset about managing resources – a Nexus Approach.
The United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) was established to help address this challenge. UNU-FLORES develops strategies to resolve pressing problems in the sustainable use and integrated management of environmental resources, particularly water, soil and waste. Focusing on the needs of the United Nations and its Member States, particularly developing countries and emerging economies, the Institute engages in research, capacity development, advanced teaching and training as well as dissemination of knowledge. In all activities, UNU-FLORES strives to fulfil its mission of advancing a Nexus Approach to the sustainable management of environmental resources.
UNU-FLORES was established in Dresden, Germany in 2012 with the support of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Ministry for Higher Education, Research and the Arts (SMWK) of the Free State of Saxony, Germany.
Press releases
Exhibition Featuring “Sustainability Stories” Worldwide in Images Opens...
The degradation of natural resources represents one of the most critical environmental megatrends worldwide and is of great concern to the... read more
26.07.2021 • By United Nations University-FLORES
Germany Renews Funding for UN University in Dresden Advancing the...
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMBF) and the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and... read more
26.01.2021 • By United Nations University-FLORES
The Free State of Saxony and Czech Republic Sponsor PhD Positions at...
The Free State of Saxony will financially support three doctoral positions at the United Nations University in Dresden (UNU-FLORES). Support... read more
02.11.2020 • By United Nations University-FLORES
Dresden Celebrates 75th Anniversary of the United Nations
This year the United Nations (UN) celebrates its 75th birthday. UN Day, celebrated annually on 24 October, will also be commemorated this year in... read more
12.10.2020 • By United Nations University-FLORES
Ploughing, Mulching, or Direct Sowing: Modelling of Soil Structural...
World Environment Day on 5 June: United Nations University (UNU-FLORES) and TU Dresden work together for sustainable resource management Since... read more
06.06.2020 • By United Nations University-FLORES
Dresden Nexus Conference 2020: Urgent Societal Questions Cannot Wait
How can the sustainable use of environmental resources be better achieved through principles of the circular economy and what role does the... read more
06.06.2020 • By United Nations University-FLORES
Dresden Nexus Conference 2020: Same Time, Virtual Format, Registration...
The Dresden Nexus Conference (DNC2020) will take place from 3 to 5 June. In view of the current Coronavirus pandemic, the conference will be... read more
20.05.2020 • By United Nations University-FLORES
