Resource Efficiency. ResourceWise June Presentation by Karolina Fras, European Commission, DG Environment.

Transcription

1 Extraction: 16 tons The Life-cycle Growing technosphere To physical stock: 10 tons Disposal: 6 tons Source Environment Sink Threats to ecosystem services! Resource Efficiency ResourceWise June 2011 Presentation by Karolina Fras, European Commission, DG Environment

2 The presentation Policy background: Europe 2020 What is resource efficiency and why do we need it? Examples, illustrations What does the Commission expect to deliver in 2011? DG Environment Roadmap Waste policy angle

3 Policy background: Europe 2020

4 Policy background : Europe 2020 strategy EU 2020: the course for the EU's economy for the next 10 years and beyond Road to «smart, sustainable and inclusive growth» Environmental considerations integrated into economic policy Flagship initiative Resource Efficient Europe (Europe 2020 press pack: )

5 Flagship initiative Resource Efficient Europe Support the shift towards a resource efficient and low carbon economy, decoupling economic growth from resource and energy use «establish a vision of structural and technological changes required to move to a low carbon, resource efficient and climate resilient economy by 2050, which will allow for the EU to achieve its emissions reduction and biodiversity targets» Communication A resource-efficient Europe of 26 January 2011 COM(2011) 21 final sets the way forward

6 What is resource efficiency and why do we need it?

7 A definition of Resource Efficiency It is about sustainable management and use of resources throughout their life cycle - from extraction, transport, transformation, consumption to the disposal of waste. It means producing more value with less material and consuming differently, to limit the risks linked with scarcity and for less environmental impacts, within our planet s natural limits. Resources include all material and natural resources, from food, timber, and biodiversity in the widest sense, to energy, metals, soil, water, minerals, our atmosphere and land.

8 Why do we need to act on resource efficiency? Growing economic activity and population growth (9 billion by 2050) are using up natural resources Competition for resources (including raw materials) increases, resource scarcities appear, prices go up - this will affect the European economy Resources such as water, fertile soil, clean air and ecosystem services are central to our health and quality of life

9 Ecological limits of resources

10 What can resource efficiency bring to the economy and society? New business opportunities (innovation, eco-industries), new skilled jobs Competitiveness and cost savings for European businesses processes use less energy and other resources products use less material and/or more recycling material reduced dependency on virgin raw materials and imports Better food/water/energy security Improved state of the environment Help in reducing carbon emissions

11 Examples, illustrations

12 Efficient Production Processes save water, reduce chemicals, reduce metals = save costs (Effizienz Agentur, SMEs, D)

13 Making greater use of eco-systems services Water Purification using plants / Flood buffer / Leisure area/ Biodiversity support (Source: Nanterre, Phytorestore, France)

14 Eco-design and planning can lead to significant reductions in resource use

15 Water: quality and quantity Water efficiency could be improved by 40% in the EU Source: WISE, EEA

16 Recycling provides needed metals 25 kg Electrical and Electronic Waste per EU citizen per year Recycling provides metals and has much lower impacts than mining

17 Waste can be used as a Resource Food Waste Bio-plastic Compost

18 What does the Commission expect to deliver in 2011?

19 Coordination of work on Resource Efficiency The Communication of 26 January 2011 provides the broad orientations on the flagship initiative common vision and framework for action scope and goals need for common scenarios and basic assumptions sequence of individual initiatives in various policy areas

20 DG Environment Roadmap

21 Work at DG ENV DG ENV Task Force on Resource Efficiency Set up in June 2010 to develop RE policy from the Environment perspective integrate RE considerations into other ongoing initiatives, both inside DG ENV and in other DGs lead the preparation of the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe Communication by mid-2011 (stakeholder consultation launched on 22 February finished 22 April) ).

22 The specific problems we must tackle: Market Failures environmental and social costs not being considered Short-term public and private decision making Short-term rewards get priority over long-term gains Lock-in into Old infrastructure (e.g. transport systems, electric grids) Old consumption patterns and business models Inconsistencies in policies

23 Waste policy angle

24 Thematic Strategy on waste prevention and recycling Framework Legislation Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) Waste Shipment Regulation (EEC/259/93) Waste Treatment Operations Incineration Directive (2000/76/EC) Landfill Directive (1999/71/EC) recycling standards (future, based on WFD) Waste Streams Sewage Sludge (75/439/EEC) Batteries & Accumulators (2006/66/EC) Packaging & Packaging Waste (94/62/EC) Mining Waste (2003/319/EC ) End-of-Life Vehicles (2000/53/EC) Electrical & Electronic Equipment (2000/96/EC) PCBs, PCTs (96/59/EC) Restrictions on the Use of Hazardous Substances in WEEE (2002/95/EC)

25 Moving up the waste hierarchy PRODUCT (NON-WASTE) Prevention WASTE Re-use Recycling Recovery Safe disposal

26 WFD - moving up the waste hierarchy WFD targets to be achieved by 2020 preparation for re-use, recycling of municipal waste, at least paper, metal, plastic, glass from households, to a minimum of overall 50% preparation for re-use, recycling and backfilling of 70% construction & demolition waste Separate collection at least of paper, metal, plastic, glass by 2015 Efficient incineration as recovery, not disposal New requirements on waste prevention

27 Recycling, incineration and landfilling of municipal solid wastes in Europe 50% 38% Source: EEA, 2007.

28 Can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30% (Prognos 2008); Avoid other emissions to air, water, soil; Avoid waste of resources, including energy; Innovation opportunities; Avoid costs of after-care and clean-up; But Implementation and enforcement of EU waste law remain poor: Missing / inadequate infrastructure, heavy reliance on landfilling Waste not collected separately, no societal habits to separate and recycle waste Illegal shipments of waste Thousands illegal landfills Some recycling targets not met Still high risk of damage to health and safety Frequent infringement cases

29 Environment: infringement cases by sector 141 = 19% Impact 95 13% Water % Nature % Information 4 1% GMO 12 2% Liability 12 2% Air % Chemical Products 35 5%

30 SOME TARGETS IN EU WASTE LEGISLATION min recovery min recycling collection rate Packaging % 55% Cars % 85% 100% Electronics % 50% min 4 kg per inhabitant per year Batteries % to 75% (efficiency) % % Tyres landfill of tyres 2006 reduction to 75% of the 1995 level Biowaste diverted from landfills 2009 reduction to 50% of the 1995 level 2016 reduction to 35% of the 1995 level New targets 2015 Separate collection: at least paper/metal/plastic/glass (WFD) % household waste % construction and demolition waste

31 Target effects Source: SOER 2010

32 Thank you for your attention Contacts: Resource Efficiency agenda: Carina Vopel, Deputy Chair of the DG ENV Resource Efficiency Task Force, Tel: Waste Management policies and legislation: Karolina Fras, Team Leader, Karolina.Fras@ec.europa.eu