20 June 2011
Humanity's annual use of minerals, ores, fossil fuels and biomass could triple to 140 billion tonnes per year by 2050, according to a study by the UNEP International Resource Panel (IRP). It warns that resources are finite and the world is already running out of cheap and high-quality essential materials such as oil, copper and gold. Improving resource productivity faster than economic growth will require changes in government policies and corporate behaviour, as well as major investment in technological, financial and social innovation.
Also in May, KPMG, the UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and Fauna & Flora International (FFI) published a paper highlighting the need for a consistent framework for investors to analyse and measure risks and opportunities related to biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Decoupling Natural Resource USE and Environmental Impacts from Economic Growth, UNEP IRP
Sustainable Insight, The nature of ecosystem service risks for business, KPMG, UNEP FI and FFI
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