He International Resource Panel (IRP) was created in 2007 by the UNEP to establish a scientific-regulatory interface on the sustainable use of natural resources and, in particular, its environmental impacts throughout its life cycle. He International Resource Panel (IRP) It is made up of renowned expert scientific personalities in the field of health management. natural resources. It also examines key issues related to the use of natural resources on a global scale and prepares evaluation reports that compile the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic findings to guide decision-making.
The extraction of the Earth’s natural resources has tripled in the last 50 years, due to the massive construction of infrastructure in many parts of the world and the high levels of materials consumption, especially in high- and upper-middle-income countries. According to a report published by the International Resource Panel (IRP)sponsored by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)material extraction is expected to increase by 60% by 2060 and could derail efforts to achieve not only global climate, biodiversity and pollution goals, but also economic prosperity and human well-being.
The report Global Resources Overview 2024prepared by International Resource Panel (IRP) with authors from around the world and disseminated during the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assemblycalls for radical changes in policy measures to enable humanity to live within its means and reduce by one third the projected growth in the exploitation and use of natural resources. natural resourceswhile boosting the economy, improving well-being and minimizing environmental impacts.
The report of International Resource Panel (IRP) concludes that serious environmental impacts have been caused due to the increase in the use of natural resources since 1970, which has gone from 30,000 to 106,000 million tons, that is, from 23 to 39 kilograms of materials are used or consumed on average per person each day. Taken together, the extraction and processing of natural resources They cause more than 60% of the emissions that warm the planet and 40% of the health-related impacts of air pollution.
The extraction and processing of biomass (for example, in agricultural crops and forestry) causes 90% of water stress and biodiversity loss related to land use, in addition to generating one third of greenhouse gas emissions . Similarly, the extraction and processing of fossil fuels, metals and non-metallic minerals (e.g. sand, gravel, clay) together account for 35% of global emissions.
The extraction of natural resources has tripled in the last 50 years
«The triple planetary crisis of climate change, the loss of nature and pollution has its origins in a crisis of unsustainable consumption and production. We must work with nature, rather than just exploiting it,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UNEP. «Reducing the resource intensity of mobility, housing, food and energy systems is the only way we can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and, ultimately, a just and habitable planet for all.
At the heart of global resource use are fundamental inequalities: Low-income countries consume six times less materials and generate 10 times less climate impacts than those who live in high-income countries. Upper-middle-income countries have more than doubled the use of natural resources in the last 50 years due to its own growth in infrastructure and the transfer of intensive processes in natural resources from high-income countries. At the same time, per capita resource use and related environmental impacts in low-income countries have remained relatively low and almost unchanged since 1995.
In countries where consumption levels are very high, it is possible to reduce global use of natural resources (compared to historical trends) if political measures to reduce consumption of natural resources and materials that complement production and efficiency in the use of resources. These changes can at the same time promote the growth of the global economy, improve the quality of life and respect the limits of the planet’s regeneration.
When it is necessary to increase the use of natural resourcesstrategies can be put in place to maximize the value of each unit of resource used and satisfy human needs in a way that does not make intensive use of resources. natural resourcesso that the benefits of using natural resources far exceed the pace of their extraction and the impacts on the environment and health remain in line with international obligations on climate, biodiversity and sustainability.
Incorporating environmental externalities into trade agreements, strengthening the regulation of commodity financial markets and implementing impact-related border adjustment policies are just some of the solutions with which Countries can avoid a race to the bottom on environmental and social standards related to natural resource extraction and, at the same time, they can retain and make the most of the value of the extraction processes in the country.
«We must not resign ourselves to the fact that the satisfaction of human needs requires intensive use of natural resourcesOn the contrary, we must stop encouraging economic success based on extraction. If politicians and the private sector take strong action, it is possible to achieve a decent life for all without the planet paying a high price,” said Janez Potočnik, co-chair of the International Resource Panel (IRP).
«At last year’s climate change conference it was agreed to move away from fossil fuels. The time has come to bring everyone to the table to implement solutions that guarantee that objective. The time has come to progressively implement solutions based on the natural resources in favor of climate, biodiversity and equity, with the aim that all people, everywhere, can live with dignity,” declared Izabella Teixeira, co-president of the International Resource Panel (IRP).
Specific recommendations include:
- Institutionalize the governance of natural resources and define the ways of using resourcesespecially the consideration of the sustainable use of natural resources in Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) implementation strategies and improve the capacity of countries to set benchmarks and targets for consumption and productivity of natural resources.
- Direct financing towards sustainable use of resources reflecting the true costs of the natural resources in the structure of the economy (i.e. subsidies, regulation, taxes, incentives, infrastructure and planning). Other recommendations include channeling private financing towards sustainable use of resources and incorporating risk related to natural resources in the mandates of public and central banks.
- Incorporate sustainable consumption options ensuring that consumers have the right information, have access to and can afford sustainable goods and services. These measures must be accompanied by regulations that discourage or prohibit the options that many consume. natural resources (such as non-essential single-use plastic products).
- Make trade a driver of sustainable resource use creating a level playing field where the true environmental and social costs of goods are reflected in prices through the introduction of MEAs in trade agreements, for example.
- Create circular solutions and business models, efficient in the use of resources and low impact including rejection, reduction, eco-design, reuse, repair and recycling, as well as supportive regulation and evaluation of existing systems.
If implemented jointly, these policies are capable of transforming the urban environment, mobility, food and energy systems, leading to: an increase in renewable energy and energy efficiency, the decarbonization of materials production, more walkable cities, adapted to cyclists and with better public transport, as well as remote working opportunities and a reduction in food loss and waste. In high- and upper-middle-income countries, there would be a progressive abandonment of animal proteins in the diet and cities would become more compact, while low-income economies would experience an increase in the use and exploitation of natural resources to allow a dignified life.
These systemic changes are expected to lead natural resource extraction to peak in 2040 and thereafter to decline by 2060 to just 20% above 2020 levels. Greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by more than 80%, stocks of materials related to transportation and construction materials would be reduced by 50% and 25%, respectively, and land use for agriculture would decrease by 5%. At the same time, food production would increase by 40%, to support populations, even where there is growth and food security, the world economy would grow by 3%, and the Human Development Index would improve by 7%, boosting incomes and well-being.
Given that many of the political commitments that countries have made in the MEAs have not been fulfilled so far and given the urgency of the triple planetary crisis, the report supports the adoption of immediate measures, following the principle of “the best scientific knowledge available ».