Introduction
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.
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.