United Nations Framework Classification for Resources
{{Short description|International standard for energy, mineral and raw material resources}}
United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) is an international scheme for the classification, management and reporting of energy, mineral, and raw material resources.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unece.org/energywelcome/areas-of-work/unfc-and-resource-management/about-unfc-and-sustainable-resource-management.html|title=About UNFC and Sustainable Resource Management - Sustainable Energy - UNECE|website=www.unece.org|access-date=2018-08-22}}[https://www.oecd.org/environment/outreach/UNECE%20and%20responsible%20mining%206.6.17%20rev.pdf UNECE and responsible mining]{{Cite news|url=https://www.unece.org/?id=37573|title=UNFC now fully applicable to uranium and thorium resources|access-date=2018-08-22}} United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UNECE) Expert Group on Resource Management (EGRM) is responsible for the development promotion and further development of UNFC.
Development
Classification and management of natural resources such as minerals and petroleum are classified using differing schemes.{{Cite book|title=Geological Survey Bulletin 1450-A: Principles of mineral resource classification system of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and U.S. Geological Survey|last=McKelvey|first=V.E.|publisher=USGS}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.australianminesatlas.gov.au/aimr/class.html|title=National Classification System for Identified Mineral Resources|last=Geoscience Australia}} In 1997, UNECE published the United Nations Framework Classification for Reserves and Resources of Solid Fuels and Mineral Commodities (UNFC-1997) as a unifying international system for classifying solid minerals and fuels.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unece.org/energy/se/unfc_fc_sf.html|title=United Nations International Framework Classification for Reserves/Resources – Solid Fuels and Mineral Commodities of 1997 (UNFC-1997) - Sustainable Energy - UNECE|website=www.unece.org|access-date=2018-08-25}} In 2004, the Classification was revised to include petroleum (oil and natural gas) and uranium and renamed the UNFC for Fossil Energy and Mineral Resources 2004 (UNFC-2004).{{Cite web|url=https://www.unece.org/energy/se/unfc_fc_sf.html|title=United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Resources 2004 (UNFC-2004)|last=UNECE}} In 2009, a simplified United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC-2009) was published.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unece.org/energywelcome/areas-of-work/unfc-and-sustainable-resource-management/publications/unfc-and-resource-classification/2013/united-nations-framework-classification-ece-energy-series-no-42/docs.html|title=United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009|last=UNECE}} In response to the application of UNFC being extended to renewable energy, injection projects for geological storage and anthropogenic resources, the name was changed in 2017 to the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC). An updated version of UNFC, with improved terminology, was released in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unece.org/energywelcome/areas-of-work/unfc-and-sustainable-resource-management/publications/unfc-and-sustainable-resource-management/2019/united-nations-framework-classification-for-resources-update-2019-ece-energy-series-no-61/docs.html|title=United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2019 Update|last=UNECE}}
Application
The UNFC system is used for:
- Policy formulation in energy and raw material studies
- National resources management functions
- Corporate business processes
- Financial reporting
UNFC currently applies to minerals,{{Cite news|url=https://www.unece.org/?id=34149|title=UNFC now operational: a new era for energy and mineral reserves reporting|access-date=2018-08-22}} petroleum, renewable energy,{{Cite web|url=https://www.unece.org/energy/se/unfc_re.html|title=UNFC and Renewable Energy Resources - Sustainable Energy - UNECE|website=www.unece.org|access-date=2018-08-22}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.unece.org/?id=43987|title=UNFC is now applicable to geothermal energy resources|access-date=2018-08-22}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.unece.org/info/media/presscurrent-press-h/sustainable-energy/2017/united-nations-framework-classification-for-resources-now-applicable-for-bioenergy/doc.html|title=United Nations Framework Classification for Resources now applicable for bioenergy|access-date=2018-08-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/globally-applicable-geothermal-reporting-standard-launched/|title=Globally-applicable geothermal reporting standard launched {{!}} Think GeoEnergy - Geothermal Energy News|website=www.thinkgeoenergy.com|date=6 October 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/unece-report-with-14-case-studies-on-unfc-classification-of-geothermal-resources-in-14-countries/|title=UNFC report with 14 case studies on classification of geothermal resources in 14 countries {{!}} Think GeoEnergy - Geothermal Energy News|website=www.thinkgeoenergy.com|date=7 December 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-24}} nuclear fuel resources, injection projects for geological storage,{{Cite news|url=https://www.unece.org/info/media/news/sustainable-energy/2016/unfc-now-applicable-for-storage-of-co2/doc.html|title=UNFC now applicable for storage of CO2|access-date=2018-08-22}} and anthropogenic resources.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unece.org/energywelcome/areas-of-work/unfc-and-sustainable-resource-management/applications/unfc-and-anthropogenic-resources.html|title=UNFC and Anthropogenic Resources - Sustainable Energy - UNECE|website=www.unece.org|access-date=2018-08-22}} Application of UNFC to groundwater resources is being evaluated.
Implementation
UNFC has been adopted as the basis of national resource classification in many countries including China, India,{{Cite news|url=https://www.unece.org/?id=33935|title=UNFC is Key to Sustainable Development in India|access-date=2018-08-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://ibm.nic.in/index.php?c=pages&m=index&id=135|title=UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CLASSIFICATION -|website=ibm.nic.in|language=en|access-date=2018-08-22}} Mexico,{{Cite news|url=https://www.unece.org/info/media/presscurrent-press-h/sustainable-energy/2018/mexico-to-test-the-use-of-unfc-to-manage-the-social-and-environmental-aspects-of-petroleum-projects/doc.html|title=Mexico to test the use of UNFC to manage the social and environmental aspects of petroleum projects|access-date=2018-08-22}} Poland{{Cite news|url=https://www.unece.org/?id=14091|title=Poland confirms its commitment to the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009|access-date=2018-08-22}} and Ukraine. African Union Commission has developed a UNFC-based African Mineral and Energy Resources Classification and Management System (AMREC) as a unifying system for Africa.{{Cite web|url=https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20180423/african-union-commission-calls-mining-professionals-and-experts-develop|title=The African Union Commission Calls for Mining Professionals and Experts to Develop African Mineral and Energy Resources Classification (AMREC) and Management System in line with the Africa Mining Vision Principle {{!}} African Union|website=au.int|language=en|access-date=2018-08-22}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.unece.org/index.php?id=49469|title=Work is advancing to develop UNFC-based comprehensive resource management system for Africa|access-date=2018-08-22}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.unece.org/info/media/news/sustainable-energy/2017/unfc-to-support-improved-management-of-africas-mineral-and-energy-resources/doc.html|title=UNFC to support improved management of Africa's mineral and energy resources|access-date=2018-08-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.uneca.org/stories/work-framing-minerals-classification-system-africa-begins|title=Work on the framing of minerals classification system in Africa begins|website=www.uneca.org|language=en|access-date=2018-08-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.uneca.org/stories/development-african-mineral-resource-classification-system-now-underway|title=Development of an African mineral resource classification system now underway|website=www.uneca.org|language=en|access-date=2018-08-22}} AMREC includes a Pan African Resource Reporting Code (PARC 2023). European Commission is using UNFC to classify and report raw material resources of Europe and mandated the same in the Critical Raw Materials Act.{{Cite web |title=EU Critical Raw Materials Act, now in force, stipulates application of UNFC and UNECE environmental treaties {{!}} UNECE |url=https://unece.org/circular-economy/news/eu-critical-raw-materials-act-now-force-stipulates-application-unfc-and-unece#:~:text=The%20CRMA%20promotes%20the%20recovery,and%20ensure%20environmentally%20sound%20practices. |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=unece.org}}{{Cite web |title=Understanding the European Commission's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) |url=https://www.slrconsulting.com/eur/insights/understanding-the-european-commission-s-critical-raw-materials-act-crma/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=SLR Consulting |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
See also
External links
- [https://unece.org/sustainable-energy/sustainable-resource-management/united-nations-framework-classification UNFC on UNECE website]