+ 30.05.2011 + Dramatic differences exist between many countries in Europe and their consumption of natural resources such as fossil fuels, biomass and minerals, a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) shows.

While some European countries appear to show some decoupling of rates of economic growth from rates of resource consumption, others do not as a result of a variety of developmental and demographic factors.

The findings, launched today during Green Week in Brussels, underline the challenge facing the European Union under its recently adopted Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources under the 6th Environmental Action Program.

The report shows that on average the annual per capita consumption of natural resources - known as the 'metabolic rate'- in Europe is around 13 tons per person.

However, for some countries such as Finland the metabolic rate is closer to 20 tons, or around six tons per person, higher than countries such as Germany or Austria with comparable incomes.

Many of the recent members to the EU also show relatively high rates of natural resource consumption, despite having far lower per capita incomes, for example Hungary and Poland.

The findings are contained in a report by the UNEP-hosted International Resource Panel entitled Decoupling: Natural Resource Use and Environmental Impacts from Economic Growth.

Marina Fischer-Kowalski, one of the report's lead authors based at the Alpen-Adria University in Austria, said: "The findings in many ways mirror the global situation.

Industrialized countries with high population densities have on average metabolic rates of 13 tons per capita whereas those with low population density - for example Finland, the United States and Australia - can have a metabolic rate up to twice that, although income and material comfort do not substantially differ".

Low population densities, allied to factors such as living in colder climates, can increase fossil fuel use for cars and for heating homes and offices.

Some European countries, including many of the recent members, have also experienced sharp growth in construction and infrastructure expansion, which in turn has increased the use of natural resources such as construction materials and energy.

UNEP 2011