UNEP International Resource Panel

What UNEP International Resource Panel does

The International Resource Panel (IRP) is a United Nations science-policy interface hosted by UNEP and launched in 2007 to produce independent scientific assessments on the sustainable use of natural resources. It is co-chaired by Janez Potočnik, former European Commissioner for the Environment, and Izabella Teixeira, former Environment Minister of Brazil, and is governed by a Steering Committee comprising 32 governments, the European Commission, and UNEP. Its core work product is knowledge — flagship reports such as the Global Resources Outlook (2019, 2024), thematic assessments on minerals, cities, trade, water, food, and climate, and the Global Material Flows Database covering 7 world regions and over 185 countries across four decades, which serves as the official UN data source for SDG targets 8.4 and 12.2. The Panel also produces tools such as the Sustainable Consumption and Production Hotspot Analysis Tool (SCP-HAT) and the Global Manual on Economy-Wide Material Flow Accounting.

IRP does not operate as a commercial enterprise. It is funded by voluntary contributions from donor governments and institutions including the European Commission, Japan, Germany, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, UNEP, and the SUN Institute, and all reports and data are distributed free of charge as a public good. Its 'customers' are effectively policymakers (G20, G7, UN member states), UN bodies (IPCC, IPBES, UNFCCC, UNDP), academia, industry associations (WBCSD, ICC), and civil society organizations, with influence exerted through reports, COP/UNEA/Mining INDABA participation, and partnerships with 20+ strategic allies including OECD, WRI, WEF, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The Panel's distribution is anchored by the resourcepanel.org website, multilingual press releases, social channels, an email knowledge list, and direct engagement at global policy forums. The Secretariat operates from UNEP headquarters in Nairobi with a small core staff, while the 41 expert members constitute the substantive scientific capacity.

Name

UNEP International Resource Panel

Legal name

International Resource Panel

Website

https://resourcepanel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The International Resource Panel is a UNEP-hosted science-policy interface launched in 2007 that provides independent scientific assessments and the Global Material Flows Database to inform government policymakers, UN bodies, academia, and industry on sustainable natural resource use.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Policy Research & Scientific Assessment

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Sustainability & ESG Reporting (GRI/SASB/ISSB/CSRD) (EUAHAJAB)

Keywords

• Scientific resource assessments
• Material flows database
• Sustainable resource management
• Environmental policy research
• Natural resource governance

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding: The IRP is funded by donations from governments and institutions. Main donors include European Commission, Japan, Germany, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, UN Environment Programme, and SUN Institute.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The International Resource Panel (IRP) provides independent scientific assessments and authoritative data on the sustainable use of natural resources and their environmental impacts across full life cycles. Its core offerings include the Global Material Flows Database (covering 185+ countries and 7 world regions across four decades), the Global Resources Outlook flagship report, thematic assessment reports, the SCP-HAT online tool, and a Global Manual on Economy-Wide Material Flow Accounting, all delivered as free public goods to inform government policymakers, industry, researchers, and civil society.

Product overview

The International Resource Panel (IRP) is a global science-policy interface hosted by UNEP that provides independent scientific assessments on the sustainable management of natural resources. The IRP's portfolio consists primarily of knowledge products and databases rather than traditional software products. Core offerings include the Global Material Flows Database (authoritative source on material extraction and trade covering 185+ countries), the flagship Global Resources Outlook report series, thematic assessment reports covering decoupling, cities, water, metals, land, food, trade, and resource efficiency, the Sustainable Consumption and Production Hotspot Analysis Tool (SCP-HAT), and the Global Manual on Economy-Wide Material Flow Accounting. These products work together to provide policymakers, businesses, academics, and civil society with science-based information for sustainable resource management decisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Material Flows Database: Comprehensive database covering direct and consumption-based material flow indicators for 7 world regions and about 185+ countries

Products and services

• Global Material Flows Database Comprehensive database providing detailed information on natural resources extracted, used, traded, and consumed across countries and regions. Covers 7 world regions and over 185 countries with material flow indicators across four decades. Available as a free public resource for governments, researchers, industry, and civil society.
• Global Resources Outlook IRP's flagship report series providing comprehensive scientific assessments on the status and trends of global resource use, policy options, and pathways for sustainable development. Editions include Global Resources Outlook 2019 and Global Resources Outlook 2024.
• IRP Reports and Scientific Assessments Thematic independent scientific assessments covering decoupling, cities, water, metals, land and soils, food, trade, resource efficiency, green technology, and global materials flows. Reports distil the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic findings to inform decision-making. Includes specific assessments such as Resource Efficiency and Climate Change (RECC), Policy Options to Eliminate Additional Marine Plastic Litter, Urban Agriculture's Potential to Advance Multiple Sustainability Goals, Intentionally Designing Sustainable Consumption and Production Policies, and Financing the Responsible Supply of Energy Transition Minerals for Sustainable Development (October 2025).
• Sustainable Consumption and Production Hotspot Analysis Tool (SCP-HAT) Online application that analyzes environmental and socio-economic performance of 171 countries over 25 years using data from the Global Material Flow Database, identifying areas where improvement can be made along supply chains of goods and services.
• Global Manual on Economy-Wide Material Flow Accounting Manual providing global guidance on compiling material flow accounts for use by national statistical systems around the world, jointly presented by UNEP, IRP, UN Statistics Division, and European Commission.
• IRP e-Learning Course on Resource Efficiency E-learning course developed jointly by ESCAP and IRP providing policy-makers and sustainable development practitioners with information on key concepts of Resource Efficiency, measurement approaches, and policy pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 55% of global GHG emissions attributed to extraction and processing of natural materials
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Earth CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing support in development and dissemination of IRP publications, enhancing policy and academic impact.
• Ellen MacArthur FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner collaborating on circular economy research and dissemination of findings.
• European Environment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner supporting IRP publications development and dissemination.
• German International Cooperation Agency for Development (GIZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing development cooperation support for IRP work.
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner connecting IRP science with business community.
• International Council for SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing scientific network support.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner collaborating on biodiversity and natural resource issues.
• One Planet NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for sustainable consumption and production initiatives.
• Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for policy analysis and economic research.
• PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing environmental assessment expertise.
• SUN Institute Environment and SustainabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for sustainability research.
• UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for regional engagement in Asia-Pacific.
• UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for regional engagement in Latin America and Caribbean.
• UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner bridging science, policy and business.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner connecting IRP science with business sector.
• World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for global economic dialogue and sustainability.
• World Resources ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for resource management discussions.
• World Resources InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for global environmental research.
• Youth and Environment EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner engaging youth in environmental work.
• African UnionminorOthersIntergovernmental organization stakeholder engaged with IRP work.
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)minorOthersRegional organization stakeholder engaged with IRP work.
• Group of 7 (G7)coreOthersG7 engages with IRP findings for resource efficiency and circular economy policies.
• Group of 20 (G20)coreOthersG20 has requested IRP assessments and factsheets for policy discussions.
• Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)coreOthersCollaborates with IRP on science-policy assessments.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)coreOthersWorks closely with IRP on climate and resource nexus.
• UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)minorOthersCollaborates on land and desertification assessments.
• UN Development Program (UNDP)coreOthersPartnered with IRP to include resource efficiency in NDCs.
• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)coreOthersIRP contributes to COP discussions on resource efficiency.
• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)minorOthersResearch network partner providing scientific expertise.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Energy Agency (IEA): Intergovernmental energy policy advisory body providing authoritative global data and analysis. IEA is broader in scope (energy-focused) than IRP but serves a comparable function as an internationally trusted data and policy reference, especially for resource extraction and energy transition minerals.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD): CEO-led business association promoting sustainable development and corporate sustainability practice. WBCSD is a named IRP strategic partner and operates as a private-sector analogue to IRP's science-policy interface.
• OECD Environment Directorate: Produces Environmental Outlooks and policy analysis used by member governments. OECD's environment work parallels IRP's resource-efficiency agenda at a more economically oriented level, and OECD is a named IRP strategic partner.

Regional players

• PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency: Dutch national environmental assessment agency producing strategic environmental analyses for Dutch and EU policymakers. PBL is a named IRP strategic partner with strong overlap in material flows and resource accounting methodology.

Direct peers

• European Environment Agency (EEA): EU agency providing environmental data, indicators, and assessments to policymakers and the public. EEA mirrors IRP's science-to-policy role at the European regional level and is a named IRP strategic partner.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): UN-hosted intergovernmental science-policy body producing authoritative assessments for policymakers. IPCC is the closest structural peer to IRP, with the same science-policy interface model applied to climate change rather than natural resource use.
• Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES): Intergovernmental body assessing biodiversity and ecosystem services for policymakers. Like IRP, IPBES delivers independent scientific assessments via an expert panel governed by member states, and is explicitly listed as a close IRP partner.

Emerging players

• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization producing data platforms (e.g., CAIT, ResourceWatch) and policy analysis on environment and development. WRI is a named IRP strategic partner and operates at the intersection of scientific research and applied policy support.
• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): Independent research organization working on environment and development policy at the intersection of science and policy. SEI shares IRP's focus on resource use, sustainability transitions, and policy-applied research.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: International charity driving the transition to a circular economy through research, business engagement, and policy work. EMF is a named IRP strategic partner with overlapping circular-economy and resource-efficiency agenda.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unepirp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNVupEmd57GLbffL1XhUD7A?reload=9&view_as=subscriber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/43235523

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UNEP International Resource Panel