Resource efficiency on top of the G20 summit in Hamburg

Federal environment minister Barbara Hendricks emphasizes that ‘ our prosperity must not be dependent on the increasingly intensive use of natural resources. Growth and consumption of resources are still too closely coupled worldwide”.

An early answer had been given by the United Nation International Resource Panel as they have published their Resource Efficiency: Potential and Economic Implications report. This report indicates how resources can be used efficiently at every stage of the economic process.

The UN report emphasizes on the importance of reverse supply chains where used materials flow in the opposite direction. Furthermore emphasis had been put on the 3R concept of reduce, reuse and recycle in order to achieve a circular economy and sustainable development.

As Barbara Hendricks continues, “Our goal must be to decouple our prosperity and our economy from the high consumption of resources”. Environmental damage and dwindling natural resources push up costs and cause conflicts and even wars over resource allocation.

It is likely that in the future resource efficiency will remain to be an important topic on the G20 agenda. Argentinean minister of Environment Rabbi Bergman, who’s country will take over the helm from Germany in 2018, admitted that Argentina will be forging ahead with innovative techniques in the green economy.

For more information,read the publication here (only available in English).