Date:               02 May 2008
Embargo:       None

ESA Attends OECD Resource Efficiency Conference

ESA supported a UN-OECD conference on resource efficiency which took place on 23-25 April 2008. Dirk Hazell, ESA Chief Executive, took part in a panel debate on the business approach to resource efficiency.

Other speakers included Peter Jones of Biffa who outlined the work of Biffaward on material flow indicators and the need for governments to develop this agenda, and Jérôme Le Conte of Veolia who anticipated the future economic and environmental contribution of the waste management sector

The Conference brought together governments, business and NGOs to consider how best to develop resource productivity to reduce the negative environmental impacts of resource extraction, processing, use and disposal, while securing adequate supplies of materials to sustain economic activity.

Coming ahead of the European Commission’s own paper and the Government’s work on the subject, the Conference provided first sight of the European Environment Agency’s work on indicators. It reviewed knowledge and information about material flows and resource productivity and discuss how markets and public policies improve resource productivity.

In his introductory presentation, Mr Hazell called for an international environmental accounting framework that is consistent, coherent and robust and which facilitates innovation while minimising competitive impacts and said that a “global context is required to capture the full lifecycle emissions of products and services which – in our globalised era – may be consumed thousands of miles from where they are produced”.

Mr Hazell drew attention to the significant progress Britain’s waste and recycling industry had made in tracking and improving its own environmental, highlighting how this was done voluntarily first with the Green Alliance, and now through the Sector Agreement voluntarily reached with the Environment Agency. He suggested this evidenced how voluntary initiatives deliver environmental improvements when there is agreement as to what needs to be achieved and suggested that it was worthwhile for governments to seek such agreement with business.

Finally, Mr Hazell welcomed the Government’s return to fiscal neutrality for business regarding the Landfill Tax escalator.

OECD Meeting of Environment Ministers
ESA Chief Executive, Dirk Hazell also spoke on behalf of business at the OECD meeting of Environment Ministers on Monday 28 April 2008, the first business speaker at such an event. He praised the economic expertise and cross-disciplinary perspective which the OECD brought to environmental debate and noted the need and business incentives for enhanced resource productivity. Asserting the need for robust metrics, he emphasised that business was a more than willing partner for governments in delivering economic and environmental success.

ESA Briefing
A more detailed briefing of the issues discussed at the OECD Conference and OECD meeting will be published by ESA shortly.

ENDS

OECD Conference Programme