NEWS – Global Resource Outlook 2024 was launched on the final day of the Sixth United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA-6) at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya

HIGHLIGHTS

• Low-income countries consume six times less materials compared to wealthy countries, despite generating 10 times less climate impacts.
• Growth of Global production and consumption of material resources – more than three times over the last 50 years (average – 2.3 per cent a year) which is the main driver of the triple planetary crisis – based on high income
• The extraction and processing of material resources — including fossil fuels, minerals, non-metallic minerals and biomass — accounts for over 55 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 40 per cent of particulate matter poisoning the environment.
• The extraction and processing of agricultural crops and forestry products accounts for 90 per cent of land-related biodiversity loss and water stress and a third of GHG emissions.
• The extraction and processing of fossil fuels, metals and non-metallic minerals including sand, gravel and clay account for 35 per cent of global emissions.
• Despite this, resource exploitation could increase by almost 60 per cent from 2020 levels by 2060 — from 100 to 160 billion tonnes.

GLOBAL RESOURCE OUTLOOK

• Refers to an assessment of the state and trends of the world’s natural resources
• It is the flagship report of the International Resource Panel of United Nations Environment Programme
• This year’s report sheds light on how resources are essential to the effective implementation of the Agenda 2030 and multilateral environmental agreements to tackle the triple planetary crisis.
• Typically encompasses a wide range of resources, including but not limited to water, land, minerals, energy, and biodiversity