Managing and conserving the natural resource base for sustained economic and social development

This document provides a compelling analysis of the urgent need to manage and conserve the planet's natural resource base for sustainable economic and social development. It highlights the immense pressure placed on our environment by current production and consumption patterns, noting that global resource extraction has grown dramatically, from 7 billion tons in 1900 to 60 billion tons today, and is projected to reach 140 billion tons by 2050. The document advocates for decoupling economic growth from resource use and environmental degradation, proposing this as a core component of the post-2015 development agenda. It suggests establishing a dedicated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for resource management, alongside integrating these principles into goals for energy, food, water, and urban development.