SERI contributed to the new UNEP report on „Decoupling natural resource use and environmental impacts from economic growth“, which has been presented on the 12th of May 2011. SERI researcher Stefan Giljum was the lead author for the chapter on “Trade and the distribution of resources and environmental burdens”. Furthermore the UNEP report cited a number of SERI studies such as SERIs work on global material flows, embodied CO2 emissions and the “Overconsumption” report.
UNEPs Decoupling report is warning that natural resource consumption could triple till 2050 if consumption patterns will not change. An absolute “decoupling” from economic growth and the amount of resources used is necessary to reach a sustainable level of resource extraction and to reduce absolute levels resource consumption in the developed countries.
The full report as well as a summary and a factsheet can be downloaded here.
