Making better use of raw materials worldwide and protecting the climate
Project description
Title: Initiative for Resource Efficiency and Climate Action I and II
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI)
Country: Global, Indonesia, Mexico, Argentina
Lead executing agency: Indonesia: Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK); Mexico: Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT–); Argentina: Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development
Overall term: 2017 to 2024
Context
The consumption of raw materials is increasing drastically worldwide. According to the International Resource Panel (IRP), it will more than double by 2050 compared to 2015. Consequences related to this include increased energy use, rising greenhouse gas emissions and harmful interference with ecosystems.
Emerging economies account for a growing percentage of overall resource consumption. This is due in part to the fact that they are developing rapidly and also because companies are relocating their production facilities there. Although resource efficiency is attractive from an economic standpoint, it has been used too little up to now.
Under the German presidency of the G20 (a group of the 20 most important industrialised and emerging economies), the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue was launched in 2017 to develop the topic on an international scale together with emerging economies.
Objective
Emerging economies are increasing resource efficiency and improving climate protection.
Approach
The project promotes the topics of resource efficiency, the circular economy and climate protection in international dialogue and especially among the G20.
It organises dialogue events for actors from politics, the private sector and academia. In Argentina, Mexico and Indonesia, the project also organised trainings with the German Centre for Resource Efficiency (VDI-ZRE). This resulted in a freely accessible online course for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In all three countries, the project promotes dialogue on how contributions in terms of resource efficiency measures can be measured in relation to climate protection. The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg developed policy recommendations.
In Argentina, companies and the relevant ministries work together extensively to exchange views on how politics can promote industrial resource and climate protection. The project supports ongoing national climate planning using strategy papers on the decarbonisation of industry.
In the Mexican state of Guanajuato, resource efficiency has been incorporated into public programmes and policies.
In Indonesia, the project advises the Ministry of Environment on how to integrate resource efficiency more fully into other policy areas and establish dialogue with the private sector.
Last update: January 2023