VIDEO EXTRACTED FROM THE GEO4 VIDEO
The European Union has made important progress
NEWS RELEASE
in decoupling resource use from economic growth.
However, absolute reduction in resource use has
not been achieved. Improvements have also been
made in eco-efficiency but attempts to change
consumption patterns have had only limited suc-
cess. Household consumption expenditure is steadily
increasing throughout Europe.
Action
Recognition of the need for integration of environ-
mental concerns into public and private social and
economic sector institutions has increased tremen-
where the resources are extracted or the waste is dously over the last decade at both national and
dumped. For example, the declining mineral extrac- international levels. A key approach to integration
tion in some developed regions is often associated of environment into development is achieving more
with the increasing import of minerals. The emissions sustainable patterns of consumption and production
and land degradation associated with extraction (SCP), as facilitated through the Marrakech process
and processing of the materials are increasing in on sustainable consumption and production, which
developing countries, while the high-value end prod- was established after the 2002 Johannesburg sum-
ucts are consumed in industrialized countries. mit.
Sustainable consumption and production: the Marrakech Process
Sustainable consumption involves the choices consumers make, and the governments, development agencies, the private sector, civil society and
design, development and use of products and services that are safe, other stakeholders. The Commission on Sustainable Development will
and energy and resource-efficient. It considers the full lifecycle impacts, review the theme of SCP during its 2010–2011 two-year cycle.
including the recycling of waste and use of recycled products. It is the
responsibility of all members of society, and includes informed consumers, Activities under the Marrakech Process are undertaken through voluntary
government, business, labour, consumer and environmental organiza- task forces led by governments, with the participation of experts from de-
tions. Instruments to promote sustainable consumption include sustainable veloping and developed countries. Through a Cooperation Dialogue with
or green procurement, economic and fiscal instruments to internalize other partners, they commit themselves to carrying out a set of concrete
environmental costs, and use of environmentally sound products, services activities at national or regional level that promote a shift to SCP patterns.
and technologies. The task forces are carrying out activities such as:
Sustainable and cleaner production is “the continuous application of an • an eco-labelling project in Africa;
integrated preventive environmental strategy to processes, products, and • national action plans on SCP;
services to increase overall efficiency, and reduce risks to humans and the • developing tools and supporting capacity building to promote
environment. Cleaner production can be applied to the processes used in sustainable public procurement;
any industry, to products themselves and to various services provided in • projects and networks on product policy to encourage more innova-
society.” This broad term encompasses such concepts as eco-efficiency, tion on product eco-design and performance;
waste minimization, pollution prevention, green productivity and industrial • projects on sustainable buildings focusing on energy efficiency;
ecology. Cleaner production is not anti-economic growth, but is pro- • the promotion of sustainable lifestyles and education through demon-
ecologically sustainable growth. It is also a “win-win” strategy that aims stration projects; and
to protect the environment, the consumer and the worker while improving • developing policy tools and strategies for sustainable tourism.
industrial efficiency, profitability and competitiveness.
Another important mechanism for implementing SCP is collaboration with
Central to such efforts is the global, multistakeholder Marrakech Process, development agencies and regional banks. The Cooperation Dialogue
which supports regional and national initiatives to promote the shift aims to highlight the contribution of SCP policies and tools to poverty
towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns. The proc- reduction and sustainable development, including the MDGs, and better
ess responds to the call of the WSSD Johannesburg Plan of Implementation integration of SCP objectives in development plans. A key priority is
to develop a 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consump- to contribute to poverty reduction through the promotion of sustainable
tion and Production (10YFP). UNEP and UNDESA are the leading consumption and production, which is especially relevant for developing
agencies of this global process, with the active participation of national countries.
Sources: UNEP 2006f, UNEP 2007b, UNEP 2007c
62 VITAL GEO GRAPHICS RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
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