The presentation gives an insight into Chapter 3 of the Global Resources Outlook on the contribution of resource extraction and refining to different impacts, and how these resources are used by provisioning systems. It also goes into resource efficient buildings and how resource efficiency can reduce material use and GHG emissions using work on Indonesia as an example.
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Hertwich_EnvironmentalImpacts_BuildingsGRO.pptx
1. Environmental impacts of
resource use. Resource
efficiency in the built
environment
Global Resources Outlook 2024
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Presenter: Edgar Hertwich
Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Member, International Resource Panel
24.4.2024, Milj淡direktoratet og Naturv奪rdsverket
2. Resources extraction and
processing causes many
environmental problems
Extraction & processing of
material resources accounts for:
>90% of impacts on land-use
related biodiversity loss and
water stress
>55% of GHG emissions
up to 40% of particulate matter
related pollution.
3. Provisioning systems determine how we
utilize natural resources to enhance well-
being.
The food system uses land and water to produce biomass,
processes and trades biomass to provide nutrition of various
quantity and quality.
The built environment is constructed from mineral
resources and fiber to provide shelter, water, wastewater
treatment, and transport services.
The mobility system consists of vehicles to provide
personal mobility and transport services.
The energy system extracts fossil fuels or harvests
renewable energy to provide energy carriers that operate the
other systems.
4. Resources serve the provision
of food, shelter, and mobility
Food provision drives
biodiversity loss.
Built environment important
for climate change and
particulate matter pollution.
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6. @UNEPIRP #ResourceEfficiency4Climate
Download the report: bit.ly/IRPrecc
Resource Efficiency to reduce resource use and mitigate impacts
Using less material by
design
Fabrication yield
improvements
Enhanced end-of-life
recovery and recycling
of materials
Material substitution
More
intensive
use
Recovery,
remanufacturing, and
reuse of components
Product lifetime
extension
7. More efficient use of buildings can reduce the
number of buildings we require
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GRO Annex 7, Residential floor space in 2020 and scenario assumptions for 2060
8. Design choices
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Apartment buildings are
more space efficient and
require less materials and
energy than single-family
houses or residential
towers.
Fotos: Edgar Hertwich. Jakarta 2023.
9. Material choice
Reuse and recycling Plant-based and natural materials
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Model of traditional house, Indonesian National Museum
Foto: Edgar Hertwich
Reuse of steel beams.
Foto: Ann Sigrid Nordby, Gjenbrukbar.no
10. 0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Steel Cement Wood Concrete Bricks Other
NTNU
RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT MODELLING
Observations and literature data collection
Archetypes modelling
Kg/m2
Material intensity
Mixed use
residential/commercial
ME design
Single Family
House
Multi-family
Buildings
Luxury
houses
Informal
houses
ME
ME
ME
11% of the stock
Already bamboo/wood rich, but
discouraged due to fire hazard
11. 0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
NTNU
GHG EMISSION SAVINGS POTENTIAL
Indonesian residential sector
Mt
CO2
Cumulative GHG emissions 2020-2060 related to material cycle
2.9 Gt
2.3 Gt
1.8 Gt
Projected Material
efficiency
Decarbonisation of
material production
40%
of materials
life cycle
emissions
495 Mt
Primary
steel
2449 Mt
Cement
and Bricks
-627 Mt
Cement
and Bricks
+263 Mt
Wood
-63 Mt
Primary
Steel
-130Mt CO2(*) -530Mt CO2 (*)
(*) Current emission factor
-480 Mt CO2 uptake
12. Levelling off of the demand for minerals in
the Sustainability Transition Scenario
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14. www.resourcepanel.org
United Nations Avenue, Gigiri
PO Box 30552 00100 GPO Nairobi, Kenya
Edgar Hertwich
Professor, NTNU
Contact the IRP Secretariat at: unep-irpsecretariat@un.org
Thank you
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Editor's Notes
#3: Extraction and processing of material resources (fossil fuels, minerals, non-metallic minerals and biomass) accounts for over 90% of impacts on land-use related biodiversity loss and water stress, over 55% of greenhouse gas emissions and up to 40% of particulate matter related pollution. Growing and harvesting biomass (agricultural crops and forestry) contributes over 90% of total land-use related biodiversity loss and water stress. All these impacts show an increasing trend.
#4: Structurally lowering or avoiding resource intensive demand in high consumption contexts is necessary. Demand- side measures such as dietary changes lowering consumption of high-impact commodities including animal protein and reducing food loss and food waste can decrease the land needed for food by 5% compared to 2020 levels while more equitably ensuring adequate nutrition for all. Reducing the need for mobility including by enabling mobility through communal and active transport can reduce related material stock requirements (-50%), energy demands (-50%) and GHG emissions (-60%) by 2060 compared to current trends. Compact and balanced neighborhoods using more recycled building content, lifespan extension, and other circular economy measures can decrease building material stocks by 25% by 2060, leading to a 30% decrease in energy demand, and 30% decrease in GHG emissions compared to current trends.
The provisioning systems perspective makes clear that the resource agenda is not only relevant to the environmental agenda. It refers to the long-term capacity of natural systems to deliver secure well-being to all, which is essential for humanity to thrive in peace. An environmentally sustainable economy with decent work and social justice is essential to the well-being of current and future generations.