Toward national policy frameworks for sustainable production & consumption

The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable pattern of consumption and production, particularly in industrialized countries... a matter of grave concern. - Agenda 21

“Developed countries should take the lead in achieving sustainable consumption patterns.” - Agenda 21 and Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21

Energy consumption

Fossil fuel consumption

Automobile ownership

Meat consumption

Mc donalds restaurants

Mc donald’s by region (1998)

Advertising by country (1999)

Growth in global Advertising

Additional Cost to eradicate extreme poverty

Different Priorities

3 global investment priorities Advertising Military Destructive subsidies

Perverse subsidies US$ billions

A Starting point “Governments, working with appropriate organizations, should…develop a domestic policy framework that will encourage a shift to more sustainable patterns of production and consumption.” -- Agenda 21, Chapter 4

International meetings on consumption Soria Moria Symposium (Oslo) Oslo Ministerial Roundtable Clarifying the concepts workshop (Rosendal) Workshop on patterns & policies (Brasilia) Workshop on indicators for sustainable production & consumption (New York) Consumption in a sustainable world (Kabelvag)

International work programme on spac z Policy implications of projected trends. z Impact on developing countries. z Effectiveness of policy measures. z Time-bound commitments from countries. z Revision of UN Consumer Guidelines.

Policy Instruments Regulatory Instruments zPerformance standards zBans/Phase outs Economic Instruments zFiscal instruments (pollution taxes, tax credits, subsidies) zCharge systems zProperty rights zMrkt creation (emissions trading) zFinancial mechanisms (debt-for- nature swaps) zGreen procurement zDeposit-refund systems Public/Info Instruments z Education & training z Public information campaigns z Eco-labeling z Partnership projects z Voluntary agreements z Pollution release inventories Land use/urban planning z Resource management z Physical planning z Mass transit z Waste collection systems

Country comments zNorway: “Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Children & Family Affairs are the central authorities on consumption issues.” zChina: “Consumption by Chinese people is still at a low level.” zUSA: “No specific decision making structure currently exists.” zIndonesia: “No national plan on consumption.” z Netherlands: “Central Government is responsible for all kinds of activities to influence production & consumption patterns…” z Russia: “Consumption capacity-building is predetermined by the need to solve…the acute economic and social problems…” z South Africa: “Protection of consumer rights will be the responsibility of the Department of Trade …”

Industry lobbying zAmerican Petroleum Institute spends as much for PR as total budget of top 5 environment NGOs zGlobal Climate Info Project spent $13 million in ads vs. Kyoto action

Campaign contributions in u.s. elections z$11.8 million from oil & gas companies to congressional candidates to protect tax breaks worth $3 billion. z$3.6 million from timber lobbies to committee members in charge of Forest Service budget. z$1.9 million from mining firms to avoid royalty charges on public minerals.

“The western economic model is in trouble” “To design & build a new one that can sustain human progress without destroying its support systems” - Lester Brown

cipd cycle

A Need to monitor government & industry Civil society groups should “monitor and evaluate progress of local, national and international authorities, institutions and industry...” - Oslo Ministerial Roundtable

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION & consumption Monitoring progress Spac watch

Spac watch objectives zBuild linkages with NGOs around the world working on production/consumption issues zAssess progress by government, industry & civil society. zHighlight civil society perspectives on efforts to establish SPAC priorities.

3 priorities for spac policy l Consumer information ã Right to Know ã Labeling (e.g., GMOs, pesticides) ã Advertising reform l Public/private investment ã Subsidy reform ã Tax reform ã FDI standards l Corporate accountability ã Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) ã Review of voluntary initiatives ã Political influence/corruption

Assessing progress Food, land, forests Energy & transport Rio+10 Comprehensive Review Subsidy reform Corporate accountability Consumer information UN Consumer Guidelines CSD Sessions