The UN Environment Program’s (UNEP) International Resource Panel (IRP) has published the second edition of its Global Resources Outlook which argues that for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to succeed, better resource management is essential, and provides recommendations to “bend the trend” on material extraction and use.
Themed, ‘Bend the Trend: Pathways to a Liveable Planet as Resource Use Spikes,’ Global Resources Outlook 2024 warns that material use has tripled over the last 50 years and continues to increase, driving the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. With resource use projected to go up 60% from 2020 levels by 2060, unsustainable levels of production and consumption could derail efforts to achieve much of the 2030 Agenda.
The report calls for reducing the resource intensity of food, mobility, housing, and energy systems, arguing it is “the best and only way” of meeting the SDGs and “a just and livable planet for all.” It recommends “decoupling” to ensure that the environmental impacts of resource use decrease while its well-being contributions rise.
According to Global Resources Outlook 2024, high-income countries use six times more materials and generate ten times more climate impacts than low-income countries. It uses scenario modeling to illustrate the possibility of reducing resource use while at the same time growing the economy, reducing inequality, improving well-being, and reducing environmental impacts in wealthy and poor countries alike.
“We should not accept that meeting human needs must be resource intensive,” said IRP Co-Chair Janez Potočnik. “Now is the time to phase up resource-based solutions for climate, biodiversity and equity so that everyone, everywhere can live a life in dignity,” stressed IRP Co-Chair Izabella Teixeira.
With bold policy action to phase out unsustainable activities, accelerate responsible and innovative ways of meeting human needs, and promote social acceptance of the necessary transitions, the report argues it is possible, by 2060, to grow global gross domestic product (GDP) 3%, improve the Human Development Index by 7%, reduce growth in material use by 30%, and achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions of more than 80% from current levels.
To enable this transition, the report recommends combining the prevailing approach of focusing on production measures with an increased focus on consumption measures, which would also help address “questions of global equity and sufficiency.” Recommended measures would help transform the built environment and mobility, food, and energy systems, reduce food loss and waste, and boost renewables and energy efficiency, decarbonization of material production, and more walkable and cyclable cities with better public transportation and remote work opportunities. High-income countries (HICs) and upper-middle income countries (UMICs) would benefit from diets with less animal protein and more compact cities, while lower-income economies would see a rise in resource use to enable dignified living.