Annotated Key Messages

Key messages facts and figures

Growing concern about assuring affordable, equitable and environmentally sustainable access to natural resources is well founded. Global use of natural resources has accelerated during the past decade and emissions and ...

Richest countries consume on average 10 times as many materials as world’s poorest. Planet will need 180 billion tonnes of material every year by 2050 if trends continue

The report presents the first assessment of the resources required at a global scale for the coming wave of urbanization. Using material flow analysis, the analysis of urban form and city organization, the assessment of ...

The proportion of the global population living in cities and towns is expected to rise from 54 percent in 2015 to 66 percent by 2050; which will result in a significant expansion of existing cities, as well as the construction ...

The International Resource Panel was established in 2007 to provide independent, scientific assessment on the sustainable use of natural resources and the impacts of resource use over the full life cycle.

We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shift future urbanization on to a more environmentally sustainable and socially just path. The Weight of Cities suggests a new approach to focus on low-carbon, resource-efficient, ...

The International Resource Panel is honoured to provide scientific insight to the Resource Efficiency Dialogue of the Group of 20. This short document summarizes some of the work done by the IRP in this field, particularly ...

The International Resource Panel was established in 2007 to provide independent, scientific assessment on the sustainable use of natural resources and the impacts of resource use over the full life cycle.