Place, Date Global Context of Sustainable Consumption & Production PhD course Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Global Context of SCP - Outline - Problem-setting Problem-setting Global consumption patters Global consumption patters Interrelation of consumption and production Interrelation of consumption and production Activities at the international level Activities at the international level Actions and research needed Actions and research needed

Promoting Sustainability: A Challenge for All “Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take an idea that seems abstract - sustainable development - and turn it into a daily reality for all the world’s people.” Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, March 2001

What is the Problem? “ The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, particularly in industrialized countries, which is a matter of grave concern, aggravating poverty and imbalances.” Agenda 21 (Chap. 4.3), Earth Summit, Rio 1992

What is the Magnitude? “It is simply impossible for the world as a whole to sustain a Western level of consumption for all. In fact, if 7 billion people were to consume as much energy and resources as we do in the West today we will need more than one planet to satisfy all our needs.” “It is simply impossible for the world as a whole to sustain a Western level of consumption for all. In fact, if 7 billion people were to consume as much energy and resources as we do in the West today we will need more than one planet to satisfy all our needs.” Gro Harlem Brundtland, 1994

Sustainable Development: a long-term issue (1) If we go on with current production and consumption patterns, Two planets are needed by 2050

Sustainable Development: a long-term issue (2) Political leaders term of office Corporate investment payback period Life of an electricity generating plant Life of a child born today Influence of CO2 on green house effect

Deterioration Continues Deterioration Continues Between 1990 and 1995, 65 million hectares of forest (the size of 130 million football fields) were lost. Between 1990 and 1995, 65 million hectares of forest (the size of 130 million football fields) were lost. In 1996, 25% of the world’s mammal species and 11% bird species were at a significant risk of total extinction. In 1996, 25% of the world’s mammal species and 11% bird species were at a significant risk of total extinction. The global marine fish catch almost doubled between and now an estimated 60% of fisheries are at or near the point at which yields decline. The global marine fish catch almost doubled between and now an estimated 60% of fisheries are at or near the point at which yields decline. 400 million tones of hazardous waste is created from chemicals each year, with 75% of the use and waste generation attributed to the industrial countries. 400 million tones of hazardous waste is created from chemicals each year, with 75% of the use and waste generation attributed to the industrial countries.

Implementation Gap Fundamental changes in the way societies produce and consume are indispensable for achieving global sustainable development. All countries should promote sustainable consumption and production patterns... Governments, relevant international organizations, the private sector and all major groups should play an active role in changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns. WSSD. Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, Sept. 2002

WSSD Plan of Implementation, Johannesburg, 2002 Encourage and promote the development of a 10-year framework of programmes in support of regional and national initiatives to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production... Encourage and promote the development of a 10-year framework of programmes in support of regional and national initiatives to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production...

Global Consumption Patters Gross Domestic Product

Inequalities in Consumption  1.3 billion people live on less than 1 US dollar a day.  1.3 billion people live on less than 1 US dollar a day.  The overall consumption of the richest fifth of the world’s population is 16 times that of the poorest fifth.  Nearly 160 million children are malnourished.  More than 880 million people lack access to health services.  More than 880 million people lack access to health services.  1.5 billion lack access to sanitation and clean water.

Population under the age of 15

Population, Consumption & Environment Population is not the main problem of environmental degradation, but rather the consumption and production patterns. Population is not the main problem of environmental degradation, but rather the consumption and production patterns. Need for inter- and intra-generation equity. Need for inter- and intra-generation equity. Need to meet the basic needs of the whole population (food, shelter, health, education, clothing). Need to meet the basic needs of the whole population (food, shelter, health, education, clothing).

Interrelation of Cleaner Production and Sustainable Consumption Over the last decade, we have seen significant improvements in Cleaner Production (pollution prevention, waste minimization, and eco-efficiency). Over the last decade, we have seen significant improvements in Cleaner Production (pollution prevention, waste minimization, and eco-efficiency). However, changes in consumption patterns have offset the environmental gains achieved CP and eco-efficiency. However, changes in consumption patterns have offset the environmental gains achieved CP and eco-efficiency.

Decoupling Equation

Environmental Kuznets Curve Largely, this trend can be seen in the history of developed economies, particularly for air pollution. Largely, this trend can be seen in the history of developed economies, particularly for air pollution. Two main exceptions to this tends to be CO2 and municipal solid waste. Two main exceptions to this tends to be CO2 and municipal solid waste. The impacts of both of these tend to be too far removed in space an time from those responsible to elicit any change in behavior. The impacts of both of these tend to be too far removed in space an time from those responsible to elicit any change in behavior.

Current Situation Rebound effects: productivity/efficiency gains being overtaken by production increases Rebound effects: productivity/efficiency gains being overtaken by production increases Problems of production process understood but gap of understanding consumption (use) and disposal of products. Problems of production process understood but gap of understanding consumption (use) and disposal of products. New developing sectors new opportunities New developing sectors new opportunities Environmental concerns not integrated into economic and social programmes and vice versa Environmental concerns not integrated into economic and social programmes and vice versa

Environmental Management Evolutionary “Ladder” Cost & liability Prevent Control Dilute Ignore Sustainable Development Save & opportunity React & treat Anticipate & prevent GOAL recycling; treatment cleaner production; sustainable consumption

The challenge... Promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns New product-oriented strategies (life cycle perspective, design and manufacture) New product-oriented strategies (life cycle perspective, design and manufacture) Understanding consumption Understanding consumption Integrated approach of sustainable consumption and production. Integrated approach of sustainable consumption and production.  De-linking environmental damage from economic growth

NOW - 10-yr framework of programs on SCP: Marrakech process International bottom-up process to promote sustainable consumption and production world-wide: 1st International Meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, June 2003 organised by UN DESA and UNEP 1st International Meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, June 2003 organised by UN DESA and UNEP Regular global and regional meetings Regular global and regional meetings Integration of economic, environmental and social aspects Integration of economic, environmental and social aspects

UN Areas of work under the 10-year framework A. General Policy Instruments and Analytical Tools ·UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative B. Changing Consumption Patterns ·UNEP/DTIE - YouthXchange ·UNEP/DTIE - Advertising and Communication Forum· ·UNEP/DTIE - Sustainable procurement ·UNEP/DTIE - Sustainable procurement C. Changing Production Patterns ·UNEP/DTIE - Sustainable Products and Services (Eco-design and Product-Service-Systems) ·UNEP/DTIE - Cleaner Production (CP) Activities ·UNEP/DTIE - National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPC ) ·DESA/ DSD - Expert Group on Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) ·DESA/ DSD - National Cleaner Technology Strategies (NCTS) D. Sectoral Issues

The implementation challenge Not simply series of meetings, but: Focus on “global consumer class” and meeting basic needs of the poor Focus on “global consumer class” and meeting basic needs of the poor Assist governments in implementing projects in areas such as water, energy and housing Assist governments in implementing projects in areas such as water, energy and housing Promote resource efficiency in key industry sectors Promote resource efficiency in key industry sectors Strengthen existing work on eco-design, economic instruments, communication and capacity building (SME’s) Strengthen existing work on eco-design, economic instruments, communication and capacity building (SME’s) Understand consumption drivers and identify opportunities for change Understand consumption drivers and identify opportunities for change

2 nd and 3 rd international review meeting of Marrakech process St. Jose, Costa Rica, Sept Strengthen the linkages between Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and poverty eradication/ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Strengthen the linkages between Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and poverty eradication/ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Focus on limited set of practical working areas Focus on limited set of practical working areas Stop with the regional consultation process Stop with the regional consultation process Stockholm, Sweden, June 2007 Business partnership Business partnership

Priorities 5 priorities for further work: 1. Industrial development (including circular economy, safer production), 2. Waste management (including 3R Initiative), 3. SCP training and capacity building as part of UNEP’s Bali Strategic Plan, 4. Sustainable Trade and Resource Consumption (focusing on life cycle thinking and adequate support for SME's in developing countries), 5. Sustainable Energy and Mobility (renewable energy and improving infrastructure for industrial development, achieving development goals).

Marrakech Task Forces Action-oriented Task Forces led by governments: 1. Co-operation with Africa, on leapfrogging to SCP (Germany) 2. Sustainable lifestyles, on advertising and youth (Sweden) 3. Sustainable product policies (UK) 4. Sustainable procurement (Switzerland) 5. Sustainable building (Finland) 6. Sustainable tourism (France) 7. Sustainable education (Italy)

International Panel on sustainable use of natural resources Independent advice to the European Commission, interested governments and international organizations Independent advice to the European Commission, interested governments and international organizations On the key environmental impacts of natural resource extraction and use in a life-cycle perspective and on approaches to reducing impacts, aimed at decoupling environmental impacts from economical growth. On the key environmental impacts of natural resource extraction and use in a life-cycle perspective and on approaches to reducing impacts, aimed at decoupling environmental impacts from economical growth. Support to capacity building in developing countries in relation to resources extraction and use in a life-cycle perspective. Support to capacity building in developing countries in relation to resources extraction and use in a life-cycle perspective.

Action and research needed: Influencing and understanding consumption & production patterns... Examine underlying drivers for consumption: identify obstacles and opportunities for change identify obstacles and opportunities for change improve products and services improve products and services  business modernize infrastructure and policy frameworks modernize infrastructure and policy frameworks  governments awareness, dialogue and reflection awareness, dialogue and reflection  consumer groups … to create “space for consumption” for all