Options under international law to increase resource efficiency: final report

In: Texte 2021, 102

In: Ressortforschungsplan of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

Abstract

Based on a stocktake of existing governance, we present options to improve international governance of resource efficiency (RE) in the short, medium and long term. The study provides a legal and political science perspective to anchoring RE more strongly at the international level. We assess how public international law and other international governance mechanisms could be used more effectively to increase RE and reduce resource consumption along the value chain. The scope includes abiotic resources such as metals, sand, gravel, potassium salts, quartz sand, and fossil raw materials. Our stocktake of existing international governance provides a mixed picture: RE is on the international agenda, but it is hardly addressed by clear guidance or binding standards. Political initiatives and non-binding mechanisms mostly use recommendations and high-level political statements with strategic priorities. Non-state governance approaches include mainly reporting and other information and management tools regarding products and production processes. The second part develops policy options and recommendations to strengthen international governance of resource efficiency. While the existing non-binding processes and mechanisms such as in the G20 could be strengthened, binding options could show a new level of commitment and also better contribute to more certainty and a level playing field. Mid- to long-term, the existing political support for RE might be increased and translated into a potential treaty framework. The annex includes an outline for a framework treaty text on resource efficiency.