This document discusses environmental challenges for natural resource-based industries. It notes that 20% of the world's population consumes 80% of resources, and if consumption levels don't change, four planets' worth of resources will be needed by 2050. Industries have major responsibilities to assess and address their environmental impacts through principles like precaution, responsibility, and green technology. UNEP works with industries through initiatives like the UN Global Compact to increase resource efficiency, investments in clean production, and consumer choice of sustainable products.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FOR
NATURAL RESOURCE BASED INDUSTRIES
DR. STEFANOS FOTIOU
REGIONAL COORDINATOR (ASIA PACIFIC): RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

2. CONTENTS
The need for change
Negative Impacts and Positive
Benefits
Main Environmental Challenges
UNEP’s work

3. THE STATE OF OUR PLANET
20% of the world’s population consumes
80% of its resources.
If everyone consumed at this level , then
by 2050 (that is to say tomorrow!)
it would take four extra planets to
provide the necessary resources

4. THE INDUSTRY’S RESPONSIBILITIES
The environment has become a
major factor in corporate decision
making.
Environmental issues are more and
more associated with virtually all
aspects of an organisation's
management, from financing to
production, from marketing to
corporate reporting.

5. THE INDUSTRY’S RESPONSIBILITIES
In this scenario, it is all the more
important to have a systematic
and integrated approach to
questions such as
 How to manage environmental issues throughout the
company's activities?
 How to consistently and visibly improve a company's
environmental performance?

6. HOW DO WE RESPOND
Assessment
Principles
Action
Report

7. IDENTIFYING THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS
The main impacts on environmental
sustainability come from
industry’s:
 Energy use and transportation
 Land use
 Water use
 Emissions
 Generation of wastes (and especially hazardous waste)

8. IDENTIFYING THE POSITIVE EFFECTS
The main contribution towards
sustainability is based on the
industry’s potential ability to:
 Stimulate development and employment creation in
disadvantaged, more remote or/and less-developed
regions
 Generate local income

9. Consumption of Production of
resources financial resources
•Transportation •Environmental
AN ASSESSMENT
•Land use conservation (?)
•Water use •Development
•Use of energy •Employment
•Waste •Local income
Production of Consumption of
goods goods

10. ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES
THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT
Support a precautionary approach
to environmental challenges
Undertake initiatives to promote
greater environmental
responsibility
Encourage the development and
diffusion of environmentally
friendly technologies

11. PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL
CHALLENGES
We need evident that an economic
activity has positive or at least
neutral effects on sustainability
When we are not certain of the
impacts we follow a precautionary
approach
Think and evaluate before you act

12. PROMOTE GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Who in the company currently has
authority to issue policies?
Who has responsibility for
environmental issues?
What are the most critical
environmental issues facing the
company?
What are the main risks and
opportunities associated with
these issues?

13. PROMOTE GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Which line managers are most
directly affected by these issues?
What are the resource implications
of addressing the
risks/opportunities?
What further information is needed
to develop an environmental
plan?

14. TOOLS FOR CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Environmental Assessment Tools
Environmental Management Tools
 Standards and labels (ISO 14000, eco-label etch.)
Environmental Monitoring and
Auditing Tools
Environmental Reporting and
Communication Tools

15. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGIES
Potential Environmental and Social
Benefits:
 Conserve natural resources
 Reduce quantity of waste and effluent generated
 Reduce pollution
 Create local income
 Improve working conditions

16. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGIES
Potential Economic Benefits
 Reduce raw material, energy and water costs
 Reduce waste disposal and transportation costs
 Increase returns by selling waste materials for reuse
 Reduce costs from potential liabilities, risks &
accidents
 Improve productivity

17. UNEP’S WORK WITH INDUSTRY
Objectives
 Increase resource efficiency and reduce pollution over
product life cycles and along supply chains
 Increased investment in efficient, clean and safe
industrial production methods
 Consumer choice favours more resource efficient and
environmentally friendly products

18. UNEP’S WORK WITH INDUSTRY
Selected activities
 The UN Global Compact
 Business & Industry Dialogue Meetings
 Voluntary Initiatives
 Partnerships
 Tools

19. The Standard Business Cycle The UNGC performance model
Plan Vision
Review
Review
Do Enablers
Check Results
Measure Report
THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT

20. BUSINESS & INDUSTRY DIALOGUE MEETINGS
Annual meetings; provide the
opportunity for UN officials and
representatives of industry and
trade associations, to:
 Review progress made in implementing environmental
management tools
 Exchange information,
 Discuss production and consumption issues, and
 Assess the state of the 2002 Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation.

21. VOLUNTARY INITIATIVES
Various sectors
 Building and Construction
 Tourism
 ITC
 Advertising and communication
 Mining
Feasibility of an environmental
initiative in the elastomer
industry?

22. TOOLS
Environmental Management System
Training Resource Kit (in
association with the FIDIC and
ICC)
Environmental Management System
Handbook
Guide to ISO 14001 for
Certification / Registration

23. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION
Stefanos Fotiou
Regional Coordinator
Resource Efficiency
UNEP - ROAP
stefanos.fotiou@unep.org