Towards a German Programme for Resource Efficiency Birgit Schwenk Head of Division „Ecological Resource Efficiency“ Act Clean Conference, Berlin 13 October 2011

Resource Efficiency: the ecological challenge Resource use: Steep rise: +50% in last 30 years Impacts on the environment Drivers: Population growth Growth in prosperity 2050: ? 9,2 billion people Resource Use: ?

Resource Efficiency: the economic challenge Quelle: Price of copper (US $ per ton)

Resource Efficiency: the economic challenge Quelle: Rising and highly volatile prices Germany dependent on imports: rich in minerals, but poor in most metals and rare earths Materials account for 45% of costs in German manufacturing sector Eurobarometer survey (March 2011): 85% of German entrepreneurs report a moderate or even dramatic rise in material costs in last 5 years, 97% expect rising costs in future

Part of the solution: Resource Efficiency Quelle: More efficient use of raw materials will -lower costs -decrease dependency on imports -decrease vulnerability to rising and volatile prices -result in higher competitiveness -secure jobs and: -decrease adverse effects on the environment -secure our natural capital for future generations

2002: National Strategy for Sustainable Development German SDS of 2002 identified a set of 21 indicators established quantitative targets Raw Material Productivity:  Double by 2020 (against 1994) Further targets include: land use, energy productivity, renewable energy, biodiversity, GHG emissions Bi-annual progress reports to monitor success

Indicator: GDP/DMI Target: % Status: % Raw material productivity: Are we on track?

2010: German Raw Materials Strategy Quelle: German Raw Materials Strategy (20 October 2010): Mix of instruments to support industry in achieving a safe, secure and sustainable supply of raw materials Contains decision to develop a Programme for Resource Efficiency „aiming to minimise the adverse effects of resource extraction and resource use on the environment“

The Way Forward: ProgRess! Programme on Resource Efficiency (ProgRess) Goals:  Decouple growth from resource use  Reduce resource use and environmental impacts How? Build on best practices and existing measures: information, coherence, scaling up Identify measures along the entire value chain Explore additional indicators and targets

ProgRess: Overview

Example: Action Field „Production“ Proposed actions: Program to provide tailor-made advice on resource- efficiency for companies Support dissemination of resource-efficient production and processing methods Promote environmental management systems (EMAS) Incentives for resource-efficient product design Integrate resource efficiency criteria into technical norms Resource-efficient Production

ProgRess: Process October 2010:German Raw Materials Strategy Mandate to develop Resource Efficiency Programme February – April 2011working drafts February – June 2011stakeholder consultations July - September 2011finalisation of MoE Draft October - December 2011government consultations on MoE draft Envisaged for January 2012Decision by Council of Ministers

Federal Minister Dr. Norbert Röttgen: “Resource efficiency means innovation and modernisation. This is a prerequisite for making societies and economies fit for the future. Our economy has the potential to become the most resource-efficient economy in the world. And this is what we are aiming to achieve.” Resource Efficiency

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