As our economies have grown, so has the use of natural resources. In an increasingly globalised economy, the challenge for policy-makers is to streamline actions 
for ensuring a more sustainable use of resources, in both renewable and non-renewable forms. Although existing policies on climate change or conservation 
of biodiversity already tackle many of the global resource challenges, a holistic framework is needed to help identify their interlinkages and gaps in a systemic 
way.  
  
  
The establishment of the International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management (Resource Panel) is a first step towards addressing this need. The Panel 
is expected to tackle resource efficiency issues for both renewable and non-renewable resources from a life-cycle perspective, as well as addressing their 
cross-cutting socio-economic issues.  
  
  
The overall objective of the Resource Panel is to provide independent scientific assessment on environmental impacts due to the use of resources over the 
full life cycle, and advise governments and organisations on ways to reduce these identified impacts. The ultimate goal is to increase resource-efficient 
market development globally, and stimulate sustainable innovation leading to the decoupling of economic growth from environmental degradation.  
  
  
Initiated in September 2006, the Inaugural Panel meeting and official launch of the Resource Panel will take place on 8-9 November 2007 during the World Science 
Forum in Budapest, Hungary. To date, interest has been received from some twenty countries and support has been pledged by the governments of Canada, China, 
Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Tanzania and the European Commission.