Environment : Resource Use

Continuing on the theme of environment with regards to my study of the GSG report, Bending the curve, I look at the resource use targets that they set forth in it. This is specially important as unabated growth in the current times is putting enormous pressure on the environment and the resources of the earth. The goal is to be eco-efficient, i.e., decrease the amount of materials used as input per $100 of GDP and the per capita material use. The values back when the report was written were $100 of GDP per 300 kg and between 45 and 80 tonnes per person per year. The report set sustainability targets fpr OECD countries at 25% reduction in material use per capita by 2025 and an additional 50% decrease by 2050. That translated to the following:
• 2025: $100 of GDP/75 kg of material and less that 60 tonnes per capita
• 2050: $100 of GDP/30 kg of material and less that 30 tonnes per capita
For the non-OECD countries the target was to reach OECD levels as these indicators were varied and low back then.
While there seems to be a general lack of objective data and measurement in this regard one can intuitively guess that developed countries have fared well in this regard. However the rapid industrialization in the non-OECD countries must have increased to a great extent resource use there. Bodies like the WBCSD actively promote eco-efficiency. More effort is needed to educate the industries, specially in developing countries, to become eco-efficient.