Factor X

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xviii

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2. Limits to Resource Use

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. The Limits of Resource Use and Their Economic and Policy Implications

      • Stefan Giljum, Friedrich Hinterberger

      Pages 3-17

   3. The Availability of Fossil Energy Resources

      • Jörg Schindler

      Pages 19-38

3. Goals and Potentials for a Sustainable Use of Resources

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 39-39

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   2. Targets for Global Resource Consumption

      • Stefan Bringezu

      Pages 41-64

   3. Sustainable Land Use – Example: Land Take for Settlement and Transport in Germany

      • Gertrude Penn-Bressel

      Pages 65-91

   4. The Need for Decarbonising Our Economy

      • Guido Knoche, Kai Kuhnhenn, Carla Vollmer, Kathrin Werner

      Pages 93-101

   5. Strategies for Enhancing Resource Efficiency

      • Arnold Tukker

      Pages 103-121

   6. Macroeconomic Impacts of Efficient Resource Use

      • Bernd Meyer

      Pages 123-133

4. Strategies and Policies for a Sustainable Use of Resources

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 135-135

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   2. The Challenge of the Whole: Creating System Policies to Tackle Sustainability

      • Friedrich Schmidt-Bleek, Markku Wilenius, Harry Lehmann

      Pages 137-147

   3. Changing the Priorities: From Labour Productivity to the Efficiency in the Use of Resources

      • Aldo Femia

      Pages 149-175

   4. Establishing and Strengthening Markets for Resource Efficient Products and Services

      • Andreas Burger

      Pages 177-191

   5. Business Models for Material Efficiency Services

      • Minna Halme, Markku Anttonen, Mika Kuisma

      Pages 193-216

   6. Requirements of an International Natural Resource Policy

      • Judit Kanthak, Michael Golde

      Pages 217-233

   7. Innovations for a Sustainable Resource Use – Reflections and Proposals

      • Martin Jänicke

      Pages 235-246

5. Proposals for Implementation

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 247-247

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   2. Reducing Resource Consumption – A Proposal for Global Resource and Environmental Policy

      • Paul Ekins, Bernd Meyer, Friedrich Schmidt-Bleek, Friedrich Schneider

      Pages 249-273

   3. Towards a More Sustainable Use of Resources: A View from the World Resources Forum

      • Bas de Leeuw, Xaver Edelmann, Katharina A. Meijer

      Pages 275-282

The editors of Factor X explore and analyze this trajectory, predicting scarcities of non-renewable materials such as metals, limited availability of ecological capacities and shortages arising from geographic concentrations of materials. They argue that what is needed is a radical change in the ways we use nature’s resources to produce goods and services and generate well-being. The goal of saving our ecosystem demands a prompt and decisive reduction of man-induced material flows. Before 2050, they assert, we must achieve a significant decrease in consumption of resources, in the line with the idea of a factor 10 reduction target. EU-wide and country specific targets must be set, and enforced using strict, accurate measurement of consumption of materials. Their arguments are drawn from empirical evidence and observations, as well as theoretical considerations based on economic modeling and on natural science.

• Factor X
• Resource Efficiency
• Sustainable Resource Use
• dematerialisation
• sustainable land use

• Sustainable Production and Products Recycling Management, The Federal Environment Agency, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany

  Michael Angrick

• Economic and Social Environmental Issues Sustainable Consumption, The Federal Environment Agency, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany

  Andreas Burger

• Environmental Planning and Sustainability Strategies, The Federal Environment Agency, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany

  Harry Lehmann

Policies and ethics