Resource justice In a world of finite resources, Europe must stop consuming more than its fair share

First steps taken to cut single-use plastics in Europe

28 May 2018

The European Commission has taken a leap forward in tackling plastic pollution, with new laws to reduce throwaway single-use plastics.

The proposal, which is designed to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, and in particular the marine environment, sets a number of different policy measures to tackle these problematic single-use products, from bans and reduction efforts, to labelling and extended producer responsibility schemes.

27 March 2018

Sufficiency – a call for transformative and systemic change

In the world we aspire to, everybody has equal access to natural resources and energy to meet their needs. But how do we get there?

30 November 2017

Citizens, policy makers, NGOs: Learn to focus on enough

Our current level of overconsumption is plundering the Earth's resources at a faster rate than they can be regenerated. This cannot last forever – and we are beginning to see the impacts of the system breaking down. Not only at the environmental level, but also at the social one. The number of murdered environmental defenders is increasing by the year, as the overexploitation of natural resources threatens local communities, especially in the global South.

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Europe is using an ever-increasing amount of the world's resources and is more dependent on imported resources than any other region in the world. As the global population increases, developing nations expand their economies, and more people lead resource-intensive lifestyles, there is more pressure than ever on the earth's decreasing resources – exacerbating social inequalities and environmental damage.

 

Friends of the Earth Europe is calling for the measurement of Europe's resource use – and the subsequent reduction of consumption levels. We recognise the environmental, economic and social benefits of reducing Europe's resource consumption, and advocates for a sufficiency-led approach to resource consumption.

More resources

Reports & publications

Sufficiency: moving beyond the gospel of eco-efficiency
27 Mar 2018

Sufficiency: Moving beyond the gospel of eco-efficiency

Land under pressure briefing
7 Dec 2016

Policy Briefing — Land Under Pressure: global impacts of the EU bioeconomy

More reports & publications

For enquiries please contact:

  • Meadhbh Bolger
  • Riccardo Mastini
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