OECD-UNEP Conference on Resource Efficiency

Bookmark this page: www.oecd.org/environment/resourceefficiency.

 

Consult the Conclusion of the Conference Co-Chairs.

Improving resource efficiency is among the top priorities in today’s world, as governments, businesses and civil society are increasingly concerned about natural resource use, environmental impacts, material prices and supply security.

This multi-stakeholder conference brought together governments, businesses, international organisations and civil society to review how improved resource efficiency can reduce the negative environmental impacts of natural resource extraction, materials processing, use and disposal, while securing adequate supplies of materials to sustain economic activity.

Objectives

Supporting activities steered by G8 summits, including the 3R initiative promoted under the presidencies of Germany and Japan in 2007 and 2008, this conference reviewed:

  • Knowledge and information about material flows and resource productivity and their economic and environmental implications.
  • Policies, measures and instruments that help reduce environmental impacts from the production and consumption of resources, and avoid waste of resources.
  • The framework conditions for markets and public policies to play their role in improving resource efficiency and ensuring sustainable resource use, considering the related development and governance aspects.

Scope

The focus was on specific flows of materials (e.g. metals, plastics, paper, materials included in electronics), and on selected key sectors (e.g. mining, manufacturing, recycling, distribution).

Who will attend the conference?

  • Top-level and senior government officials
  • Business leaders
  • Leaders of trade unions and environmental non governmental organisations (NGOs)
  • Representatives of intergovernmental organisations

The meeting of OECD Environment Ministers took place shortly following this event.

The next meeting of the International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management hosted by UNEP took place in May.

Top of page

Organisers

OECD

Environment Directorate

UNEP

Division of Technology, Industry and Economics