A Resource Efficient Europe: which indicators? Werner Bosmans European Commission DG Environment Brussels, 19 September 2013
Growth of the World Economy 2050 1950 2010
Planetary boundaries & human activity
Rising resource prices: Bubble or Paradigm Shift?
The Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe & the 7 th EAP
Resource efficiency: Doing more with less raw materials: metals, minerals-fuels-biomass = Producing more value while living, producing and consuming within the physical and biological limits of the planet Part of a new Europe 2020 strategy for growth and jobs Communication The Roadmap to a ecosystems biodiversity water land and soils air marine resources Resource Efficient Europe" (20 Sept. 11)
The main lines of the Roadmap Three time lines long term 2050 vision milestones for 2020 actions to be taken now Three action lines Transforming the economy Addressing natural capital Tackling key sectors Getting the prices right, reflecting environmental externalities Accompanied by governance and monitoring
Another economic model: Circular Economy Take Parts manufacturer Mining/materials manufacturing Re-make Renewable energy in Product manufacturer Service provider Consumer Make New consumer? Use Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation circular economy team
7th EAP -Thematic priority objectives 1. To protect, conserve and enhance our natural capital base, which is the foundation on which so much of our economic activity is built 2. To put in place the right conditions for resource-efficient, low-carbon growth, which is at the core of the green economy we want to create 3. To tackle the remaining environmentrelated pressures and new and emerging risks, to help safeguard the health and wellbeing of Europe's citizens
7th EAP: soils & land Priority objective 1: to protect, conserve and enhance the EU's natural capital Main messages Better implement existing legislation and strategies New element: the degradation, fragmentation and unsustainable use of land in the EU is jeopardising the provision of several key ecosystem services, threatening biodiversity and increasing Europe s vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters => future action (and targets) on soil and on land
Resource efficiency indicators
Why do we need indicators (and targets)? Spur debate & action on Resource Efficiency policy Monitor the progress to a more Resource Efficient Europe (and the performance of related policies) Focus political attention through tangible figures and objectives (e.g. EU 2020 headline indicator)
Three layers approach 1. Lead indicator : Resource productivity (GDP/DMC) Links resource efficiency and economic performance Shortcomings: only captures material resources ; does not reflect differences between various materials; does not deal with shifts to non-eu countries 2. Dashboard of macro-indicators on Water, Land and Carbon 3. Thematic indicators: Measure progress towards specific objectives and actions
Consultation Process European Resource Efficiency Platform High level group including European Commissioners, Members of the European Parliament, ministers, business CEOs, academia and representatives of NGOs and civil society Public consultation More than 170 answers, half of them from industry
Way Forward (Indicators) Broad agreement with the options put forward by the Commission Move to Raw Material Consumption (RMC) instead of Direct material Consumption (DMC) Disaggregate material data in order to differentiate between various nature of materials Better reflect biodiversity and eco system services; re-use and recycling Better integrate the international perspective ( footprinting )
Way Forward (Targets) The EU should set ambitious and credible targets In addition to Carbon, targets should address o Materials (material productivity) o Water o Land
What can Earth Observation deliver for resource efficiency policies?
Zooming in : Hotspot Information Information about areas of special interest: trends & changes; benchmarks => Support for biodiversity policies
Using EO for mining 'footprint? Measuring the Impact of mining activities - monitoring specific sites of interest: Monitoring soil degradation and contamination (potential of hyperspectral EO data?) Monitoring impact on ecosystems and biodiversity (land cover/use change, land fragmentation..) Monitoring illegal activities or illegal practices Support to emergency management Material extraction?
EO: red mud sludge Hungary, Oct. 2010
What can Earth Observation deliver? Land cover/use changes at global and european level in a high resolution Land degradation, desertification, droughts, food security Biodiversity and reduction of its loss Deforestation Material extraction? Water? =>Evidence base behind environment policies - megatrends : Make data widely available, comparable, fit-for-purpose => information
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/resource_efficiency/ werner.bosmans@ec.europa.eu