Sustainable consumption
Encyclopedia
Main articles: Sustainability
, Sustainable living
Definitions of sustainable consumption (SC) share a number of common features, and to an extent build in the characteristics of sustainable production, its twin sister concept and inherit much of from the idea of sustainable development
:
(UNCSD), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Division of Sustainable Development of the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the international non-governmental organization Consumers International
.
Chapter 4.3 from Agenda 21 in from the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 states:
Sustainable consumption governance has developed from the Oslo definition to the present day implementation strategies and policies that were generated through these global meetings.
. There are not any hierarchal institutions with any highly formal rules and at present there are no legally binding international treaties, with no suggestion by the Marrakech Process that there needs to be one.
The current focus of international organisations is on implementation, which can be split into two elements:
These elements are brought about by having general goals that can be pursued through the incorporation of agents, re-articulating their interests and thus their practices through the act of deliberation and information sharing. At the WSSD a ‘Type II’
partnership was identified as the most effective method of implementation in achieving sustainable development (this being a hybrid of public, private and civic organisations). The power of networks means they have the potential to influence groups and individuals successfully.
Since the Marrakech Process, a number of networks have formed globally and regionally in Africa, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Arab region and North America. One example in the UK is the Sustainable Consumption and Production Network, which acts as a single point of reference on SCP for the regional development agencies, regional assemblies, Government offices for the regions, regional observatories and the regional offices of the Environment Agency
on a sub-national level. Whilst the Sustainable Consumption Research Exchange network (SCORE!) was set up to bundle SCP research expertise in the EU and beyond.
is one leading independent authority, that is exploring the dimensions of consumption and production. Perhaps controversially Tesco
, the largest supermarket in the United Kingdom, announced in 2007 a £5m project to create a Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI).
SC is not always equivalent to livable conditions. In the United States, for the most part, technology and capital are available to find or invent replacement resources and for people to find new occupations that are less destructive to the environment. The United States can start becoming a more sustainable society. On the other hand, many developing countries do not have the ability to reduce their consumption of resources and are often subordinate to a more powerful government. Developing countries may receive necessary imports such as food from outside sources and furthermore may not be able to control the exploitation of their own natural resources by international companies.
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, Sustainable living
Sustainable living
Sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources and his/her own resources. Practitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet...
Definitions of sustainable consumption (SC) share a number of common features, and to an extent build in the characteristics of sustainable production, its twin sister concept and inherit much of from the idea of sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
:
- Quality of life;
- Wise use of resources, and minimisation of waste and pollution;
- Use of renewable resources within their capacity for renewal;
- Fuller product life-cycles; and
- Intergenerational and intragenerational equity.
The Oslo Definition
The definition proposed by the 1994 Oslo Symposium on Sustainable Consumption defines it as "the use of services and related products which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimising the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardise the needs of future generations."Institutionalising sustainable consumption
During the 1990s, SC was mainly developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UN Commission on Sustainable DevelopmentCommission on Sustainable Development
The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development was established in December 1992 by General Assembly Resolution as a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council, implementing a recommendation in of Agenda 21, the landmark global agreement reached at the June 1992 United...
(UNCSD), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Division of Sustainable Development of the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the international non-governmental organization Consumers International
Consumers International
Consumers International is the world federation of consumer groups that serves as the only independent and authoritative global voice for consumers...
.
Chapter 4.3 from Agenda 21 in from the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 states:
-
- “The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable pattern of consumption and production, particularly in industrialized countries, which is a matter of grave concern, aggravating poverty and imbalances.”
Developments of sustainable consumption after Agenda 21
- 1994 – At the UNSCD it was decided there was a need to consider SC.
- 1995 – SC was requested to be incorporated by UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) into the UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection.
- 1997 – A major report produced by OECD on SC.
- 1998 – UNEP SC program begins and discussion of SC in the Human Development ReportHuman Development ReportThe Human Development Report is an annual milestone publication by the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme .-History:...
of the UN Development Program (UNDP). - 2002 – Creation of a ten-year program on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) in the Plan of Implementation at the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentEarth Summit 2002The World Summit on Sustainable Development, WSSD or Earth Summit 2002 took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002. It was convened to discuss sustainable development by the United Nations. WSSD gathered a number of leaders from business and non-governmental...
(WSSD) in Johannesburg. - 2003 - The “Marrakech Process” was developed by co-ordination of a series a of meetings and other “multi-stakeholder” processes by UNEP and UNDESA following the WSSD.
Sustainable consumption governance has developed from the Oslo definition to the present day implementation strategies and policies that were generated through these global meetings.
Governance of sustainable consumption
Overall, SC governance is still at an early stage of development, but these institutions exhibit principles of network governanceNetwork governance
Network governance is "interfirm coordination that is characterized by organic or informal social system, in contrast to bureaucratic structures within firms and formal contractual relationships...
. There are not any hierarchal institutions with any highly formal rules and at present there are no legally binding international treaties, with no suggestion by the Marrakech Process that there needs to be one.
The current focus of international organisations is on implementation, which can be split into two elements:
-
- 1. Widening participation and building partnerships.
- 2. Developing information concerning specific sectors and issues.
These elements are brought about by having general goals that can be pursued through the incorporation of agents, re-articulating their interests and thus their practices through the act of deliberation and information sharing. At the WSSD a ‘Type II’
Type II Partnerships
Type II partnerships were developed at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. Arising in opposition to the state-centred eco-governmentality of previous approaches to sustainable development policy, the partnerships facilitate the inclusion of private and civil actors...
partnership was identified as the most effective method of implementation in achieving sustainable development (this being a hybrid of public, private and civic organisations). The power of networks means they have the potential to influence groups and individuals successfully.
Since the Marrakech Process, a number of networks have formed globally and regionally in Africa, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Arab region and North America. One example in the UK is the Sustainable Consumption and Production Network, which acts as a single point of reference on SCP for the regional development agencies, regional assemblies, Government offices for the regions, regional observatories and the regional offices of the Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
on a sub-national level. Whilst the Sustainable Consumption Research Exchange network (SCORE!) was set up to bundle SCP research expertise in the EU and beyond.
Sustainable consumption initiatives
The Centre on Sustainable Consumption and ProductionCentre on Sustainable Consumption and Production
Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production is an international visibility for scientific research, public awareness and transfer activities on sustainable consumption and production, located in Germany, Europe....
is one leading independent authority, that is exploring the dimensions of consumption and production. Perhaps controversially Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
, the largest supermarket in the United Kingdom, announced in 2007 a £5m project to create a Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI).
SC is not always equivalent to livable conditions. In the United States, for the most part, technology and capital are available to find or invent replacement resources and for people to find new occupations that are less destructive to the environment. The United States can start becoming a more sustainable society. On the other hand, many developing countries do not have the ability to reduce their consumption of resources and are often subordinate to a more powerful government. Developing countries may receive necessary imports such as food from outside sources and furthermore may not be able to control the exploitation of their own natural resources by international companies.