RT Report
T1 Assessing Global Resource Use: A System Approach to Resource Efficiency and Pollution Reduction
A1 United Nations Environment Programme, 
A2 Bringezu, Stefan
A2 Ramaswami, Anu
A2 Schandl, Heinz
A2 O’Brien, Meghan
A2 Pelton, Rylie
A2 Acquatella, Jean
A2 Ayuk, Elias
A2 Chiu, Anthony Shun Fung
A2 Flanegin, Robert
A2 Fry, Jacob
A2 Giljum, Stefan
A2 Hashimoto, Seiji
A2 Hellweg, Stefanie
A2 Hosking, Karin
A2 Hu, Yuanchao
A2 Lenzen, Manfred
A2 Lieber, Mirko
A2 Lutter, Stephan
A2 Miatto, Alessio
A2 Singh Nagpure, Ajay
A2 Obersteiner, Michael
A2 van Oers, Lauran
A2 Pfister, Stephan
A2 Pichler, Peter-Paul
A2 Russell, Armistead
A2 Spini, Lucilla
A2 Tanikawa, Hiroki
A2 van der Voet, Ester
A2 Weisz, Helga
A2 West, James
A2 Wiijkman, Anders
A2 Zhu, Bing
A2 Zivy, Romain
K1 natural resource
K1 resource efficiency
K1 resource exploitation
K1 pollution control
SN 978-92-807-3677-9
YR 2017
FD 2017
LK https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/27432
UL https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/27432
NO This interim report evaluates the status and prospects of sustainable consumption and production to inform international environmental policy. By examining the relationship between material resource use and pollution, the document establishes that extraction and processing drive significant environmental pressures, including greenhouse gas emissions and waste. The scope encompasses global material flows from 1970 to 2017, focusing on biomass, fossil fuels, metals and non-metallic minerals. Methodologically, the analysis employs a systems approach and life-cycle perspective, utilizing a multi-country database and material footprint indicators. Key findings indicate that global resource extraction has tripled since 1970, with high-income nations maintaining disproportionately large footprints. Enhanced resource efficiency and circular economy transitions are presented as essential mechanisms for achieving sustainable development.
DS UN Environment Document Repository
RD Sep 21, 2026