A platform led by the European Commission to provide advice on how to reduce resource use in Europe, has not provided concrete steps towards achieving its goal, according to Friends of the Earth Europe.
Recommendations issued by the European Resource Efficiency Platform lack ambitious resource reduction targets, and are not in line with the European Commission’s plans to reduce resource use in Europe by 2050.
Magda Stoczkiewicz, director of Friends of the Earth Europe, said: “It’s disappointing that after so much talk, there is very little concrete action. The European Commission must live up to its own resource efficiency roadmap, including credible resource reduction targets”.
Friends of the Earth Europe welcomes the support given to developing and using carbon, land, material and water footprints to measure our resource use, but is concerned that indecision and delays in this policy area will affect the implementation of the roadmap, and Europe’s chances to reduce resource use.
Magda Stoczkiewicz continued: “Better resource use not only benefits Europe in the form of economic savings, job creation and environmental protection, but also countries outside Europe – where our overconsumption has resulted in land grabbing, pollution and human rights abuses. The gains are too big and the costs too painful to remain inactive.”
In a letter today to President Barroso, Friends of the Earth Europe emphasised the need for the European Commission to stick to its resource efficiency roadmap rather than further delay the process and water-down ambition. The upcoming circular economy package is now pivotal for the development of this policy area. Friends of the Earth Europe wants the European Commission to measure its land, water, materials and carbon footprint, and set reduction targets for each.
