G7 alliance for efficiency
In order to push ahead with enhancing the efficient use of natural resources in G7 states, Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks has proposed an alliance of G7 states. "If everybody is to be able to live as we do, we will have to manage our resources more economically worldwide, and achieve more using fewer resources," she said in Berlin.
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Efficient resource management: a great deal of energy is needed to produce steel
Photo: Sebastian Bolesch
Within the context of Germany’s G7 Presidency, Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks is hosting a conference in Berlin jointly with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. Representatives of leading industrialised nations will spend two days discussing how to use natural resources more effectively with experts from the realms of industry, politics, the science and research community, and civil society. Not only will this bring environmental benefits, it also has many economic advantages.
G7 – the powerhouse of ideas
In order to forge ahead with the efficient management of natural resources worldwide with the help of G7 states, Barbara Hendricks would like to found a G7 alliance for the economic use of resources. States should engage in a more intensive dialogue about new technologies and ideas, and pool their knowledge. Coordination between political and business levels too should be facilitated.
Energy consumption is rising
In 2050 our planet will be home to some 9 billion people. Energy consumption will rise. Energy and resources are also needed to manufacture all the products used around the world. We have limited supplies of these natural resources, however. The Federal Environment Minister is endeavouring to have common ideas developed at the G7 summit in June as to how to make more efficient use of natural resources.
Resource efficiency as a driver of economic growth
In manufacturing, 45 per cent of costs are accounted for by materials and natural resources – the single largest cost factor by a long way. Companies that can make economical use of resources are more competitive, create jobs and protect the environment.
"Resource efficiency is a key factor in future economic development," stressed Matthias Machnig, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. One important step is to decouple economic growth from the consumption of raw materials. Germany has already managed to do so. Since 1994 the economy has continued to grow, while the consumption of natural resources has dropped by 14 per cent.