"Resource efficiency is a key task of environmental policy"
Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen has welcomed the initiative presented today by the European Commission, "A resource-efficient Europe". In this initiative the Commission maps out the path towards a Europe that aims to make more efficient use of natural resources and thus to achieve a more stable economy, less environmental damage and greater social justice. "Resource efficiency is a key task of environmental policy. Germany will strongly support the European Commission making this a focus of its activities," commented Minister Röttgen.
"A resource-efficient Europe" is one of the seven flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The initiative is geared towards decoupling economic growth from resource consumption, supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy, promoting the use of renewable energy sources and modernising our transport systems to make them more sustainable.
In its Sustainability Strategy the German government stated its goal of doubling raw material productivity by 2020 compared with 1994. "Resource efficiency means innovation and modernisation. This is a prerequisite for making societies and economies fit for the future. Our economy has the potential to become the most resource-efficient economy in the world. And this is what we are aiming to achieve", noted Minister Röttgen.
To this end, the Federal Environment Ministry is currently drawing up a national resource efficiency programme. The German government aims to decide on this programme in good time before the UN Conference on Sustainable Development planned for May 2012.