Resource Efficiency
UNEP works to promote resource efficiency and
sustainable consumption and production in both developed and developing
countries. The focus is on achieving increased understanding and implementation
by public and private decision makers of policies and actions for resource
efficiency and sustainable consumption and production.
International scientific assessments, such as the
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the Global Environmental Outlook and the
4th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, make it increasingly evident the world cannot achieve sustainable
economic growth without significant innovation in both the supply (production)
and demand (consumption) sides of the market.
Decoupling economic growth from environmental
impact and creating the ‘space’ for poor people to meet their basic needs will
require producers to change design, production and marketing activities.
Consumers will also need to provide for environmental and social concerns – in
addition to price, convenience and quality – in their consumption
decisions.
Given the breadth of the challenges and actions
required, activities are focused on specific tools encompassing policies,
market-based instruments and voluntary approaches, with emphasis given to some
specific economic sectors.
Within the resource efficiency priority area, UNEP aims to support and
facilitate global efforts to ensure natural resources are produced, processed
and consumed in a more environmentally sustainable way.
Rising levels of materials production, trade, and consumption are an important driving force behind many of the world’s most pressing environmental threats. For example, the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment concluded that over the past half-century “humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, largely to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber, and fuel.” The assessment also found that about 60 per cent of the ecosystem services evaluated in the report are being degraded or used unsustainably.
Rising levels of materials production, trade, and consumption are an important driving force behind many of the world’s most pressing environmental threats. For example, the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment concluded that over the past half-century “humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, largely to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber, and fuel.” The assessment also found that about 60 per cent of the ecosystem services evaluated in the report are being degraded or used unsustainably.
Economic growth and the development and human welfare gains it contributes
to cannot be sustained with current consumption and production patterns. At the
same time, a large share of the world population is still consuming too little
to meet even their basic needs. Responding to this dual challenge will require a
combination of new policies, redirected investment, application of
environmentally sound technologies, international cooperation, and capacity
building to reshape national economies as well as the global economy. UNEP is
well positioned to facilitate and accelerate the shift to more resource
efficient and sustainable consumption and production patterns. UNEP is building
on its existing mandates, securing more synergies within the organization
itself, and strengthening and extending partnerships with a broad range of
public and private institutions and stakeholders.
As a general matter, many governments look to UNEP for support in
developing policies related to RE&SCP at the national level as well as for
assistance in identifying and implementing practical solutions at the local
level. The business community is supported by UNEP who convenes the scientific
community to streamline and harmonize the application of SCP as well as of
economic tools and trade and market-based instruments such as eco-labels. The
private sector is also showing increasing interest in partnering with UNEP in
action-oriented initiatives, notably within specific sectors such as building
and construction, organic agriculture and tourism. Civil society particularly
values UNEP’s capacities related to information dissemination and
communications. Public-private partnerships that promote more sustainable
product life-cycles and supply chains are, and will continue to be a major focus
for UNEP.
The overarching aim of UNEP’s work on RE/SCP is to decouple economic growth
from resource use and environmental degradation. Towards this end, UNEP focuses
on enhancing resource efficiency, reducing the environmental impacts of
producing, processing and using goods and services, while also meeting human
needs and improving wellbeing. The work focuses on four central themes:
- strengthening and communicating the knowledge base for RE&SCP;
- building governmental capacity;
- consolidating and extending partnerships with business and industry; and
- influencing consumer choice.
The UNEP expected accomplishments are:
- That resource efficiency is increased and pollution is reduced over product life cycles and along supply chains.
- That investment in efficient, clean and safe industrial production methods is increased through public policies and private sector action.
- That consumer choice favours more resource efficient and environmentally-friendly.
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