Material Security (MS)

Sustain quality of life for all of Earth’s people through

innovation

Division of Technology, Industry and EconomicsDivision of Technology, Industry and Economics

2nd UK-JAPAN Workshop on Materials Security12th July 2007, Southampton, UK

UNEP - Mission

To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

´Environment for Development´

•Assess the State of the World’s Environment & Understand Env. Challenges (GEO);

•Stimulate solutions to environmental problemsPromoting International

Environmental Law Voluntary Initiatives

•Build capacity and networks to enable implementing solutions

UNEP – 3 roles

Raise awareness

Build consensus

Build capabilities

Demonstrate projects

Exchange information

Identify & define

DTIE - Approach

What are we talking about?

… and sharing resources between the rich and the poor.

Consuming and producing more efficiently and differently ...

The Challenge

I’d like to end poverty, stop violence and

racism,and get rid of

pollution. Everyone should be equal.

I want to dress in the nicest clothes,drive a great car, talk on the latest

mobile phone, and watch my brand new DVD

Global political context

• JPoI - Chapter II: Poverty Eradication

Materials contributing to MDGs

• JPoI - Chapter III: Sustainable Consumption and Production

10 year framework on SCP/ Marrakech Process/ CSD 2010-2011

Material Security &Food Security

• Materials SecurityA situation in which materials are available to sustain quality of life for all

• Food Security (FAO)A situation in which food is available so that people do not live in hunger or fear of starvation

• Stages of InsecurityRange from wealth withfood secure situations topoverty with full-scalefamine

What proportion of global resources have been used?• Uncertainty over the answers

Surveys highlight significant concerns since growing consumption levels place increased demands on limited resources

• Growing demand for metals and minerals from emerging economies Major pressures on global supply of metals such as copper, iron and zinc

• Scarce resources may mean conflictExample of civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo

What implies a sustainable use of the global resources?• Environmental impacts over the

full life cycleSurveys highlight significant concerns since growing consumption levels place increased demands on limited resources

• Growing impacts due to scarcer resources Major pressures on global supply of metals such as copper, iron and zinc

• Material Security and climate change15 recycled cans equal to 1 kg CO2 avoided

Current situation: a quick assessment

• Productivity/efficiency gains being overtaken by production increases (rebound effects)

• Problems of production process understood but those of the use and disposal of a product still largely unknown

• New emerging sectors posing increasing threats as well as new opportunities

• Environmental concerns not integrated into economic and social programmes

• De-linking of economic growth from environmental damage needed

0

50

100

150

200

250

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

Index

, 198

0 = 10

0

Generation of municipal wasteEnergy useW ater abstractions

Generation of municipal wasteEnergy useW ater abstractions

Total use

Intensity of use per GDP

Figure 1. Resource and material intensity of OECD economies, total use and intensity of use relative to GDP, 1980-2020

Absolute and relative decoupling

EnvironmentalKuznets Curve

• Largely, this trend can be seen in the history of developed economies, particularly for air pollution.

• Three main exceptions to this tends to be municipal solid waste emission with GWP and impacts on ecosystem life support functions.

• The impacts of these tend to be too far removed in space an time from those responsible to elicit any change in behavior.

GDP

Env’l degradation

Decoupling Equation

I = i x m x u x P

(Total

impact)

(impact /

kg)

(kg /

utility)

(utility /

capita)

(capita)

Strategies: Transmaterial-

isation

Dematerial-

isation

Structural

Changes

The need for resource-efficiency and innovation

•3 R InitiativeReuseReduceRecycle

•Circular economyCrucial role of China

•Responsibility for raw materials and sustainable growth G8 Heiligendamm

The idea of a scientific Resource Panel by UNEP

•Provide independent scientific advice to national governments and relevant international organizations on:

– Key environmental impacts of the extraction and use of natural resources in a life cycle perspective, and

– Strategies and approaches to reduce these impacts in growing economies by ‘doing more with less’

•Support for the enhancement of scientific knowledge and for capacity building in developing countries

•Contribute to Marrakech process, CSD discussion in 2009-2010 and 10 year framework on Sustainable Consumption and Production

The ultimate goals and expected benefits of a

Panel1. Increase resource efficiency and

decouple environmental impact from economic growth-> Relevant policies

2. Improve processes, products and services -> Business innovation

2. Enhance awareness and dialogue on efficient resource use-> Improved quality of life

Focus on selected material flows and products …

… like recyclable metal resources …

Oceania

Other Asian Countries

Europe

China

South Korea

NorthAmerica

South America

J apan

1,000 500

General Ferrous scrap (7204 other than 720449)

Heavy and other ferrous scrap (720449)50 (in thousand t)

UNEP Division for Technology, Industry and Economics

… and their environmental impacts …

Global Warming

Biodiversity& Land use

Toxicity Water quality

Food ++ +++ ++ ++

Non-Food + ++ ++ +++Minerals & Metals

+ + ++ +

Fossil Fuels +++ + ++ +

Impact

Resource

Source:

Adapted

from

N&M

… in a life cycle perspective

Source: IAI

Tentative structure

Board

WG 1 WG 2 WG 3

Panel

Up to 20 members

Up to 20 scientists

Decision on focus areas

Scientificadvice

Secretariat

The way forward

• Expert workshop on 25 September 2007 in Tokyo, JapanIn conjunction with OECD-Japan Seminar on Material Flows and Resource Productivity, 26-27 September 2007

• Inaugural Panel Tentatively scheduled for autumn

Linking to UK Japan collaboration on Materials Security!

For more information:

Secretariat

SCP Branch, UNEP DTIE,Paris, France

http://www.unep.fr/sustainEmail: sc@unep.fr