This publication is an excerpt of the report, "Decoupling natural resource use and environmental impacts from economic growth : a report of the working group on decoupling to the International Resource Panel".
This report provides a solid foundation for the concept of decoupling, clearly defining key terms and providing empirical evidence of escalating resource use. It shows that decoupling is already taking place to some extent, but is lagging far behind its potential. The scenarios show that we are facing a historic choice about how we use resources and the report scopes the potential of innovation, rethinking economic growth and the role of cities in building more resource efficient economies.
The aim of this publication is to present an initial synthesis of core problems in each region, the status and focus of related research, and corresponding new research needs. This book provides an overview of knowledge about the negative impacts of global and local change in selected regions of the world, based on qualitative appraisals made by multarget_idisciplinary teams of specialists.
This guide was developed to help address issues regarding resource consumption and environmental conservation, efficiency and competitiveness in enterprise management, and sustainable consumption and production. The case studies highlighted offer an ideal starting point in understanding the full environmental implications of products. This guide shows how a life cycle approach can be used to identify and reduce the environmental and health impacts of the products we use.
