Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3Rs. A core element of Asia- Pacific governments’ economic growth strategies DRAFT Background paper for the 6 th regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific Maldives, 16-19 August 2015, presented by Heinz Schandl
The opportunity for Asia and the Pacific • Unprecedented growth in population and consumption coincides with unprecedented constraints of land availability, soil quality, water, fossil fuels, metals and fertilisers supply risks • Climate impacts, pollution and waste • New economic context of reduced supply security and potentially higher prices • Defining question of this century: how can we accommodate more people, more production and more consumption on the same planet • Most economic opportunities will arise in resource efficiency and waste minimization technologies, practices and infrastructure 2 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Kondratieff cycles – long waves of prosperity • 1 st cycle 1780-1830: steam engine • 2 nd cycle 1830-1880: railway, steel • 3 rd cycle 1880-1930: electrification, chemicals • Great depression 1929 • 4 th cycle 1930-1970: automobiles, petrochemicals • First and second oil price shock 1973, 1980 • 5 th cycle 1970-2010: information and communication technology • Global Financial Crisis 2008-09 • 6 th cycle 2010-onwards: environmental technology, nanotechnology and biotechnology – 3R’s, SCP, green growth 3 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Current trends in material and energy use and emissions Asia and the Pacific 90,000 ROW 3.2% 80,000 World 70,000 60,000 million tonnes 50,000 6.1% 40,000 30,000 0.3% 20,000 10,000 - 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 4 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Current trends in material and energy use and emissions Asia and the Pacific 700,000 2.6% ROW 600,000 World 500,000 Peta Joule 400,000 0.7% 300,000 5.7% 200,000 100,000 - 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 5 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Current trends in material and energy use and emissions 1.8% 60,000 Asia and the Pacific ROW 50,000 World 40,000 Million tonnes 0.9% 30,000 3.3% 20,000 10,000 - 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 6 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Current trends in resource efficiency Efficiency Gap 7 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Current trends in resource efficiency Efficiency Gap 8 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Drivers of material use, 2000 to 2010 -50% 0% 50% 100% 150% -75% -50% -25% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 125% Africa 45% -19% 29% 34% Asia + Pacific 88% 15% 45% 28% EECCA 25% -33% 0% 58% Europe -3% -18% 8% Latin America + Caribbean 35% 15% 21% North America -15% -30% 9% West Asia 101% 47% 29% 26% World 43% 13% 29% 1% Net Change % DMC Population Affluence Technological coeffcient UNEP (forthcoming) Global Material Use and Resource Productivity Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Global and regional policy initiatives • Post-2015 development agenda and new Sustainable Development Goals • Agreement of ministers and environmental authorities of their first forum in Bangkok on priorities for Asia and the Pacific • Group of 7 initiative for resource efficiency based on the Kobe 3R declaration • Process of economic integration and technical cooperation in Asia and the Pacific • Japan: Sound Material Cycle Society high-level policy goal • China: Circular Economy Promotion Law 10 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Post-2015 development agenda and new Sustainable Development Goals • GOAL 8 Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all – 8.4 Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead • GOAL 12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns – 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources – 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse Proposal for Sustainable Development Goals Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
First forum of ministers and environment authorities of Asia Pacific in Bangkok, May 2015 • The effect of climate change and disasters and increasing vulnerability of countries in Asia and the Pacific, which will continue to impose economic losses that could offset development gains, increase poverty and threaten water and food security. • Deteriorating health and rising costs from air, water and soil pollution due to emissions, effluent and waste from industry, transport and agriculture. • Threatened food, water, and energy security due to increasing population, rapid urbanization, changes in land use and widespread pollution. • Increasing resource use , with little improvement in resource efficiency , causing degradation and loss of ecosystems services and additional financial burdens. • Gaps in scientific knowledge and evidence based understanding of the causes of environmental degradation were adversely affecting the confidence of policy makers in taking timely and decisive action to safeguard the common environment. Chair summary Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Decoupling economic growth and environmental pressure/impact Source: UNEP 2011 Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl |
Decoupling – more from less • Decoupling through maturation and structural change of the economy • Decoupling or recoupling through technology change • Decoupling through outsourcing • Decoupling through systems innovation 14 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Opportunities in resource and emission intensive sectors • Heavy industry – iron and steel, cement, and paper industries • Construction and housing • Transport and mobility • Agriculture and food • Energy provision 15 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Transformative policies • Ecological budget and tax reform • Carbon abatement through a market mechanism (cap and trade, carbon tax) • Remove subsidies on primary resources • Invest in green economy • Consume responsibly (governments and households) 16 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
A policy agenda for achieving the SDG’s based on the 3R’s: resource efficiency and waste minimization • Resolve the tension between economic growth and environmental sustainability through a regional/national conversation • Extend the mandate of the regional 3R Forum to facilitate this conversation • Establish a regional advisory panel of eminent scientists and community leaders • Promote and introduce transformative policies • Mainstream 3R policies into sectoral policy • Mainstream 3R policies into trade agreements and market liberalization 17 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
… Policy agenda continued … • Regional financing mechanisms for projects and experiments that enhance resource efficiency – New Asian Infrastructure Bank • Regional private–public partnerships need be promoted to establish demonstration projects of eco-city precincts and eco- industrial parks • Establish a knowledge-sharing platform based on a university collaboration network • Establish an Asia-Pacific research area to drive policy relevant research 18 | Resource efficiency and waste minimization achieved through the 3R. s | Heinz Schandl
Thank you Please be in touch for any feedback you may have. Heinz Schandl heinz.schandl@csiro.au LAND AND WATER
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