Developing resource efficient methods and technologies

Global resource consumption is unsustainable, particularly in upper-income countries which consume the vast share of resources. The rapidly increasing global population will only increase the current unsustainable demands on resources. This global state of affairs cannot remain status-quo, whilst it may be assumed that rich countries would prefer not to compromise their standards of living. Resource-efficient methods and technologies can facilitate and may ensure sustainable resource use with maintained standards of living.

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

1. Supporting research and development of environmentally sound technology
2. Formulating methodology
3. Developing technologies
4. Developing resources

1. Using sustainable technologies
2. Improving biomass technologies
3. Developing new recycling technologies
4. Designing products for recyclability

1. Using renewable energy resources
2. Uncoupling economic growth from growth in resource use
3. Ensuring economical usage of natural resources by industry
4. Developing rural energy sources
5. Recycling materials

1. Increasing awareness for need to stabilize resource consumption
2. Building ecologically

1. Overefficient
2. Inefficiency