SAVING SCARCE MATERIALS

I chaired this week in Brussels a meeting of the European Resource Efficiency Platform.

The Platform brings together Environment Ministers of EU States, MEPs, and EU Commissioners with representatives of business, trades unions and environmental organisations.

Key materials that we need for the support of human life are in diminishing supply as world population increases and more people aspire to western life styles and consumption patterns. This includes the air we breathe, the water we drink, and other materials like oil, metals and phosphate

We need to conserve, and recycle materials, and to do that, concerted action is needed by the whole of society. That is why the declaration agreed at the meeting this week, which is  along with this note, is so important.

(please click on image for doc)