List of Figures 
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations  
Summary
Zusammenfassung 
1 Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Objectives
1.3 Approach and Methodology  
1.3.1 General approach and methodology
1.3.2 Selection of instruments for the stocktake
1.3.3 Developing options
2 Stocktake and analysis of barriers
2.1 The existing legal framework: Treaty law and customary law relevant to resource efficiency
2.1.1 Customary law and general principles of law
2.1.1.1 Relevance in general and use of terms
2.1.1.2 Permanent sovereignty over natural resources
2.1.1.3 Equitable utilisation of shared natural resources
2.1.1.4 Common areas (common property, res communis)
2.1.1.5 Common heritage of mankind
2.1.1.6 Common concern of humankind
2.1.1.7 Prevention of transboundary environmental harm
2.1.1.8 Sustainable Development
2.1.1.9 Inter-generational equity
2.1.1.10 Polluter pays principle
2.1.1.11 Precautionary principle
2.1.1.12 Common but differentiated responsibility
2.1.1.13 State responsibility
2.1.2 Treaty law
2.1.2.1 London Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter
2.1.2.2 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; Agreement on the Implementation of Part XI of the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention
2.1.2.3 Minamata Convention
2.1.2.4 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
2.1.2.5 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
2.1.2.6 Paris Agreement
2.1.2.7 Common Fund for Commodities/ Agreement Establishing the Common Fund for Commodities
2.1.2.8 International Study Groups
2.1.2.9 Sixth International Tin Agreement (with Annexes)
2.1.2.10 Bilateral Resource Agreements between the Federal Republic of Germany and Kazakhstan, the Mongolia, and Peru
2.1.3 Overall assessment of the legal framework
2.2 International political processes and legally non-binding mechanisms promoting resource efficiency
2.2.1 Introduction
2.2.2 UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2015)
2.2.3 UN Habitat III: The New Urban Agenda
2.2.4 UN 10-Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (2012) and the One Planet network
2.2.5 UNEP Green Economy Initiative
2.2.6 UNEP Global Initiative for Resource Efficient Cities
2.2.7 UNEP International Resource Panel (2007)
2.2.8 World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF)
2.2.9 IFC Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability
2.2.10 OECD Green Growth Strategy
2.2.11 OECD Recommendation of the Council on Resource Productivity (2008)
2.2.12 G20 Dialogue on Resource Efficiency
2.2.13 G8 Kobe 3R-Action Plan
2.2.14 G7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency (2015)
2.2.15 Assessment
2.3 Non-state and other governance approaches
2.3.1 Reporting
2.3.1.1 Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
2.3.1.2 KPIs for ESG (by the Commission on ESG Environmental, Social & Governance Issues (CESG) of EFFAS (European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies))
2.3.2 Environmental Management Systems
2.3.2.1 EMAS
2.3.3 Products Environmental Impact Assessment
2.3.3.1 ISO 14040, 14044 (Life Cycle Assessment, LCA)
2.3.3.2 PEF Product Environmental Footprint (European Commission)
2.3.4 Type I Eco-labels (Der Blaue Engel, Nordic Swan), GEN (Global Eco-Labelling Network)
2.3.5 Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
2.3.6 GeSI (Global E-Sustainability Initiative)
2.3.7 Zero Waste International Alliance
2.3.8 Assessment of non-state governance approaches
2.4 Overarching assessement
3 Further Development of the Current Framework
3.1 Assessment of governance proposals in academic literature
3.1.1 Governance proposals related to international law: A new treaty?
3.1.2 Governance proposals related to international political processes and non-binding mechanisms
3.1.2.1 International Multistakeholder Forum
3.1.2.2 An emerging International Multistakeholder Forum? EU Horizon 2020 project “FORAM: Towards a World Forum on Raw Materials”
3.1.2.3 International data hub
3.1.2.4 Intergovernmental Panel on Sustainable Resource Management
3.1.2.5 International Resource Management Agency
3.1.3 Governance proposals related to international non-state governance approaches
3.1.3.1 Mandatory Reporting on R-KPIs (resource efficiency Key Performance Indicators)
3.1.3.2 International Metal Covenant for the Automotive Industry
3.2 Policy options and recommendations
3.2.1 Strengthening resource efficiency in international law
3.2.1.1 Work towards a treaty on resource efficiency in the medium to long term
3.2.1.2 Interpret the polluter pays principle and existing customary law in terms of resource efficiency
3.2.1.3 Paris Agreement: Address resource efficiency
3.2.2 Strengthening resource efficiency in political processes, organisations and non-binding mechanisms
3.2.2.1 G20 dialogue: Keep resource efficiency on the agenda and develop further into recommendations and actions
3.2.2.2 Continue G7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency and coordinate with G20 dialogue
3.2.2.3 IRP follow-up: Define and feed in mandate for further work
3.2.2.4 IRP to explore potential of international-level policies for resource efficiency, including a global taxation of resources
3.2.2.5 Reporting requirements for companies regarding resource efficiency
3.2.2.6 Promoting environmental management systems
3.2.2.7 UNEP: Strenghtening National Cleaner Production Centres and the global network for Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECPnet)
3.2.2.8 UNEP & UN Habitat “Zero Waste Cities” Award (or: programme/fund)
3.2.2.9 World Bank and IFC: Strengthen the anchoring of resource efficiency within the Bank
3.2.2.10 OECD: Implementation review of OECD Recommendation of the Council on Resource Productivity (2008) – Ten years later
3.2.2.11 Creation of an International Resource Agency
3.2.2.12 Define mid-level goals on resource efficiency (e.g., in OECD, G20 and potential Framework Convention on Resource Efficiency)
3.2.2.13 Voluntary Country and Company Guiding Principles on Strengthening Resource Efficiency
3.2.2.14 “2% Initiative for Resource Efficiency” (e.g., UNEA, incl. GEF funding)
3.2.2.15 Resolution on Extended Producer Responsibility and Eco-design (e.g., as UNEA Resolution)
3.2.2.16 Creation of an international (public-private) recycling fund
3.2.2.17 Country-driven resource-efficient procurement initiative (e.g., OECD initiative)
3.2.2.18 G7 “Golden carrot” initiative to internationally promote ecological product design
3.2.3 Strengthening resource efficiency in non-state and other governance approaches: Global Multistakeholder Forum on Resource Efficiency
4 Annexes
4.1 Annex 1: Levers for resource efficiency (based on ProgRess)
4.2 Annex 2: Outline for a Framework Convention on Resource Efficiency
5 References