In an address to the workshop, Ms Siobhán Egan, representing the Environmental Pillar in Ireland as well as the European Economic and Social Committee, emphasized the need for governments to 'get real' on greening the economy. She believes that instead of resource efficiency being regarded as a niche concept, it should be a mainstream principle of our economy.

'Resource efficiency and the greening of the economy has been seen as a subset of the wider economy. We see this in the Action Plan for Jobs in Ireland and we see a similar approach in other Member States. Resource efficiency needs to be prioritised so that jobs can be realised in making our economy more sustainable,' she said.

Ms Egan made the point that responsible resources management means ensuring the ongoing functioning of natural systems so that the public can continue to receive social and economic benefits long into the future.

'We cannot ignore the erosion of the living systems that support human life, or assume that continued loss of natural systems and biodiversity will not impact on our health and wealth,' she said. 'One of our biggest challenges is being real and honest about our land and resource use and accounting and reporting accurately on it.'

The concept of greening the economy refers to a sustainable type of growth which achieves economic prosperity with less use of natural resources and which reduces economic and social inequality. De-coupling economic growth from the use of scarce natural resources is a core part of greening the economy, as is minimising food waste, energy efficiency and addressing unsustainable consumption and production patterns.

Ms Egan urged the governments of Ireland and other EU States to incentivise and actively manage the transition to resource efficient economies. She highlighted the need for participation from civil society, businesses and consumers in order for the transition to be successful.

She appealed to the European Resource Efficiency Platform to support EU Member States in achieving the transition through credible, longer-term stability and stimulus packages.

About the European Resource Efficiency Platform
The European Resource Efficiency Platform (EREP) provides high-level guidance and advice on policy measures designed to transform the European economy towards a more sustainable growth path. Resource efficiency is a pillar of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, and is therefore a top priority for the European Commission. The primary task of the Platform will be to determine how to achieve the milestones and vision set out in the Commission's Roadmap to a resource-efficient Europe, including the ultimate vision of decoupling resource use and its impacts from economic growth.

The Platform is chaired by John Bruton, a former prime minister of Ireland and EU Ambassador to the US. Its 34 members include five European Commissioners, four Members of the European Parliament, nine business leaders from various sectors, four environment ministers, and members of international organisations and institutions, civil society and academia.

The Platform has set up three EREP Working Groups (WGs) which are being hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee over the course of 24th to 26th of September and are concentrating on the following themes:

• WG I: Circular economy / greening the economy;
• WG II: Setting objectives and measuring progress;
• WG III: Framework conditions for investment in resource efficiency.

About the Environmental Pillar
The Environmental Pillar was created in 2009 as the fifth pillar of Ireland's Social Partnership. The Environmental Pillar is made up of 26 national environmental NGOs, acting together as one social partner. The Environmental Pillar works to promote the protection and enhancement of the environment, together with the creation of a viable economy and a just society without compromising the viability of the planet on which we live for current and future generations of all species and ecosystems. For more information see the Environmental Pillar's website.

About the European Economic and Social Committee
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) participates in European policy making as a consultative body of the Council of Member States, the European Parliament and the Commission. Its 344 members from all European Member States are drawn from a wide range of economic and social interest groups including entrepreneurs, workers, farmers, people from craft industries, trade, services and other professional sectors, consumer associations, the social economy actors and environmental NGOs. The Committee provides a platform for civil society dialogue in the European Union. It acts as a bridge between the European civil society and European policy makers.