[Title] G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue

A G20 Workshop on Resource Efficiency took place under the German G20 Presidency in Berlin on March 16 and 17, 2017. A public opening session with high-level speakers was followed by a workshop amongst government delegations and invited guest speakers from International Organizations, business, trade unions and civil society who presented on the concept of resource efficiency, good practice examples from industry and civil society's perspective on resource efficiency. Number of Government delegations shared national policies and discussed, in a government-only session, possible future G20 collaboration to advance resource efficiency.

In light of the results of this Workshop we establish a G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue to cooperate more closely on the efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.

The G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue will be designed to exchange views and experiences on policy options and good practice examples for resource efficiency along the entire life- cycle of natural resources, products and infrastructure. International Organizations, business, academia, civil society and other stakeholders may be invited to contribute to this dialogue with their expertise. As a platform to share knowledge, advance options for resource efficiency and promote sustainable consumption and production patterns the G20 Dialogue will support the transition to a sustainable and efficient use of all natural resources and contribute to poverty eradication.

1. Working towards a resource-efficient and sustainable global economy

Acknowledging that an efficient and sustainable use of natural resources is vital for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals we will join efforts to work towards a resource-efficient and sustainable global economy. We emphasize that resource efficiency yields numerous benefits for the environment, climate, health, jobs and sustainable economic growth.

2. Objectives of a G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue

We establish a G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue to exchange knowledge on policy options and good practices that have been successful in improving resource efficiency along the entire life-cycle of natural resources, products and infrastructure. The Dialogue will help spread resource-efficient solutions and options to strengthen countries' national resource efficiency policies. Meetings of the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue will be organized by the G20 Presidency starting with a meeting in Germany in the second half of 2017. Relevant International Organizations and stakeholders such as business, academia and civil society can be invited by the respective G20 Presidency to share expertise. The G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue could profit from a close cooperation with the Business 20. It will work on a voluntary basis.

3. Possible first subjects for the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue

The following subjects could be a starting point for the dialogue in the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue:

a) Cooperation on implementing resource-related SDGs

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will rely on a more sustainable use of natural resources, both on the production and consumption side. Under the 2030 Agenda, countries have inter alia committed to achieve by 2030 the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, to improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and to endeavor to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead. In the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue we will share our experience and collaborate on the implementation of efficient use of natural resources in accordance with all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Relevant International Organizations could be invited to contribute to this work.

b) Broadening the knowledge base on global resource use and future resource needs

In order to manage and use all natural resources sustainably in the framework of the 2030 Agenda, an improved knowledge of current and projected global resource needs and of the macro-economic and environmental as well as spillover effects of practices that advance resource efficiency is desirable.

While there is some on-going work in these areas by relevant International Organizations, considerable knowledge gaps remain. International Organizations could strengthen and expand this important work and contribute expertise on scenarios pertaining to global natural resource use for consideration in the G20 Dialogue. The Business 20 and other stakeholders could be invited to contribute to this work as well.

c) Exchange of good practices on resource-efficient solutions along the entire life- cycle

Sustainable development in G20 countries involves investment and infrastructure decisions which will have a significant impact on future use of natural resources and offer opportunities to shift the global economy towards a more resource-efficient path that also contributes to poverty eradication. The G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue could promote an exchange of experience and knowledge on resource-efficient solutions along the entire life-cycle for industrial and urban development, infrastructure, waste management, water use, production processes, consumption patterns and business models. Such an exchange of experience could profit from national and international expertise including the Business 20 and International Organizations, which may be invited to share good practices and scalable options.