The Norwegian Environment is responsible for coordinating the work on The International Resouce Panel within the country.
About the International Resource Panel
The International Resource Panel (IRP) was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2007 to build and share the knowledge needed to improve our use of resources worldwide.
The Panel consists of eminent scientists with expertise in resource management issues. It studies key questions around global resource use and produces assessment reports that distill the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic findings to inform decision-making.
The Panel provides advice and connections between policymakers, industry and the community on ways to improve global and local resource management. The Panel includes scientists and governments from both developed and developing regions, civil society, industrial and international organizations.
Its goal is to steer us away from overconsumption, waste and ecological harm to a more prosperous and sustainable future. One main objective is to strengthen the interplay between science and policy in order to achieve a high standard in resource management, resource efficiency and circular economy.
The International Resource Panel has more than 35 expert members drawn from a wide range of academic institutions and scientific disciplines. Its Steering Committee has 27 governments, the European Commission, and UNEP. The Panel also has a number of strategic partners.
Read more about the Resource Panel here
The role of the Norwegian Environment Agency in the panel
Alongside the EU, Norway has actively contributed to the launch of the International Resource Panel back in 2007 and is now one out of 27 countries in the steering committee. The Norwegian Environment Agency officially represents Norway in the Steering Committee of the IRP and is responsible for coordinating the work within the country, as well as communicating the findings from the Panel reports.
Reports from the Resource Panel
The International Resource Panel publishes reports on the access to resources and environmental consequences of the use of natural resources such as water, soil, forest, energy, minerals and metals.
The reports also take a deeper look on how sustainable development and circular economy can enhance biodiversity and have a positive effect on the climate. The scientific facts from the IRP reports delivers an important input to Norwegian authorities when it comes to implementing the Convention on Biodiversity, the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Both the EU and UN refer to the reports. The Resource Panel also plays an important role in many developing countries.