Intensifying existing resource use

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. Economic activity is closely tied to consumption of materials. Cutting back on one can only be accomplished by cutting back on the other. However, many other opportunities exist for increasing the productivity of materials and energy use without sacrificing real human welfare.

1. Adopting environmentally sound energy options
2. Increasing efficiency
3. Developing national policies to change unsustainable consumption patterns
4. Increasing-Decreasing
5. Uncoupling consumption from resource consumption
6. Improving allocation of resources
7. Increasing eco-efficiency in business
8. Improving

1. Reducing heat loss in buildings
2. Maximizing waste reuse
3. Making easy-to-repair items
4. Increasing productivity of non-renewable resources
5. Increasing product use intensity
6. Increasing energy intensity
7. Establishing local recycling centres
8. Ensuring economical usage of natural resources by industry

1. Reducing materials throughput
2. Reducing adverse atmospheric effects of industrial development
3. Enabling poor to achieve sustainable livelihood
4. Developing economically

1. Using renewable energy resources
2. Supporting use of environmentally sound technology
3. Supporting research and development of environmentally sound technology
4. Researching energy efficiency
5. Promoting environmentally sound economic growth
6. Extending producer responsibility
7. Demonstrating need for effective use of resources

1. Improving natural resource use

1. Shortage of natural resources

1. Unused
2. Underuse
3. Intensity
4. Inefficiency
5. Efficiency
6. Abuse