CHANGING CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION PATTERNS IN DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DISCUSSED IN COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Press Release
ENV/DEV/509
CHANGING CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION PATTERNS IN DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DISCUSSED IN COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
19990423 Commission Concludes High-level SegmentChanging consumption and production patterns in developed and developing countries, and the ways such behaviour was influenced by culture, globalization and urbanization were among topics discussed by the Commission on Sustainable Development as it concluded its high-level segment this afternoon.
The three-day high-level segment brought together government ministers and policy-makers from around the world to address the Commission's substantive themes and bring political impetus to the implementation of decisions. During its current session, to conclude on 30 April, the Commission is also addressing small island developing States, oceans and seas, and the impact and potential of tourism.
Global inequalities in consumption were grotesque, Sweden's Minister for the Environment said. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the richest 20 per cent of the world was responsible for 86 per cent of consumption, while the poorest 20 per cent consumed only 1.3 per cent. Everyday decisions made a real difference, he stressed. In his country, an eco-labelling project had resulted in a 60 per cent reduction in household chemicals.
Green purchasing by consumers required the availability of green choices from the market, and proper information to educate consumers, the representative of the Republic of Korea said. All parties must be involved. Traditional and cultural values were often the best means of transmitting environmental awareness. Among the many effects of globalization, developed countries transmitted their consumption patterns to developing countries. That issue must be addressed.
The world must better understand the driving forces which influenced consumer choice and behaviour, including gender-related issues, Finland's representative said on behalf of the European Union. People must understand
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the way that consumption and production related to health, quality of life and poverty. Consumption and production issues must be included in teaching curricula at all levels.
Statements were also made by representatives of: Italy, Switzerland, Cameroon, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Belarus (also for the Russian Federation and Ukraine), Czech Republic, Morocco, Benin, and Brazil.
After formal statements, the Commission held a dialogue to refine a draft resolution proposing revisions for the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection, and elements for a draft decision on changing consumption and production patterns.
The Administrator of the UNDP, James Gustave Speth, said that extraordinary developments had been made in technology. Countries must be willing to put economic incentives in place, to drive eco-friendly technology forward and make it available to developing countries.
A number of Government representatives stressed the importance of technological transfer and the promotion of environmentally friendly technology.
A representative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development said market forces could be used to generate incentives throughout the supply chain for sustainability. The key was not producing and consuming less, but producing and consuming differently, he stressed.
Australia's representative underlined the role of businesses in promoting sustainable consumption and production. Businesses knew about economic efficiency and had taken on the challenge of cleaner production. Governments should support such efforts.
Speaking on the inclusion of sustainable consumption in the 1984 Consumer Protection Guidelines, a representative of the International Chamber of Commerce said that such a move would dilute the clarity of the original document. The representative of Consumers International said extending the Guidelines was a crucial step forward in sustainable development efforts. The new Guidelines would be effective as a tool for promoting effective action.
At the end of the meeting, Simon Upton (New Zealand), the Commission's Chairman, read a draft summary of the high-level segment's consideration of tourism, oceans, small island developing States and consumption. He said the Commission's interactive dialogue had been essential in examining the draft texts proposed by its Inter-Sessional Ad Hoc Working Groups.
The Commission, which monitors implementation of Agenda 21, the action plan adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 26 April, to hear national presentations from Kenya, Iceland and Poland.
Commission Work Programme
The Commission on Sustainable Development met this afternoon to consider the current patterns of production and consumption which generate waste and pollutants, and unsustainably tax the planet's natural resources. The topic is one of the Commission's substantive themes for its seventh annual session, which will end on 30 April. The Commission is also considering: sustainable tourism, oceans and seas, and small island developing States during its two- week session as part of its mandate to monitor implementation of Agenda 21, the action plan adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
On consumption and production, the Commission will have before it: the Secretary-General on the topic (document E/CN.17/1999/2), the proposed draft resolution (document E/CN.17/1999/L.1), and a report of the Inter-Sessional Ad Hoc Working Group on Consumption and Production Patterns and on Tourism (document E/CN.17/1999/16).
The Secretary-General's report states that the General Assembly, at its nineteenth special session, in June 1997, identified changing consumption and production patterns as an overriding issue in the implementation of Agenda 21. The session concluded that the focus of policy-making on sustainable consumption and production should shift from conceptual work to implementation.
The Commission's work programme on changing consumption and production patterns, adopted in 1995, focused on the following areas: identifying the policy implications of projected trends in consumption and production patterns; assessing their impacts on developing countries; evaluating the effectiveness of policy instruments; eliciting time-bound voluntary commitments from countries to make measurable progress; and revising the United Nations guidelines for consumer protection.
Consumption of energy and natural resources is growing steadily, driven by economic development and population growth, the report adds. Consumption patterns are also influenced by social values, technological developments and urbanization, which often promote consumption by creating new needs and aspirations. Further work is needed in the area of global modelling for projections of future trends in consumption and production. Modelling would aid the analysis of potential policy impacts and long-term strategic planning.
There has been concern that policies and activities to promote sustainable production and consumption in developed countries may adversely affect economic development in developing countries by limiting exports from developing to developed countries. According to the report, those concerns relate particularly to environmental standards for products and production processes and eco-labelling. There is also concern that changes in consumption and production patterns in developed countries may reduce the demand for some
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products from developing countries, including fossil fuels, minerals and other industrial raw materials.
A priority area for continuing work should be the evaluation of the effectiveness of various policy instruments for promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns, the report states. Case studies and databases should be developed and expanded to provide up-to-date information on the impacts of policies in both developing and developed countries. Consideration should be given to identifying effective mixes of regulations, economic instruments, education and information programmes, and government provision of complementary services and infrastructure.
Policy analysis should focus on policy packages that provide economic, social and environmental benefits through more resource efficient and cleaner production. Consideration should be given to assessing the benefits and costs of removing environmentally harmful subsidies and the effects of integrating environmental and social costs and benefits into market prices of goods and services. Consideration should be given to the rates at which environmental taxes can be phased in or environmentally harmful subsidies phased out, with minimum adverse impacts, and to measures for assisting social groups and enterprises that may be harmed by economic instruments or regulations.
Obstacles to the dissemination of energy- and resource-efficient technologies, particularly to developing countries, should be identified and mechanisms developed to overcome them, including access to information on new technologies, financing for investment in efficient and clean technologies by small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries, and technical assistance to assist in the transfer and adaptation process. Efforts to identify further potential for eco-efficiency improvements should be pursued.
An important issue, not adequately addressed by the existing work programme, is the effect of the mass media, marketing and sociocultural trends in consumption patterns. For effective policy development, there is a need for a better understanding of the factors shaping consumer choice and behaviour, including traditions, norms and social values. The future work of the Commission, leading up to the 10-year review of UNCED in 2002, will consider consumption and production patterns as an overriding issue.
Changing consumption and production patterns to ensure sustainability need not imply a decrease in quality of life or living standards. On the contrary, if existing consumption and production patterns persist, further development will be hampered and the quality of life will decrease. Changing consumption and production patterns for the benefit of all people and all countries is increasingly urgent to secure prosperity, improve quality of life, provide equal access to education and health services, and ensure a high quality environment for all. The future work of the United Nations on the issue should be focused on achieving that goal.
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The draft resolution submitted by the Commission Vice-Chairman, Navid Hanif (Pakistan), would have the Commission recommend that the Economic and Social Council expand the United Nations guidelines on consumer protection to include sustainable consumption. The guidelines were adopted by the General Assembly in 1985, and the Commission, in its third session, recommended their expansion.
The guidelines were intended to meet such needs as: the protection of consumers from hazards to their health and safety; the promotion and protection of the economic interests of consumers; the access of consumers to adequate information to allow them to make informed choices on products; consumer education on the environmental, social and economic impacts of consumer choices; the availability of effective consumer redress; and the freedom to form consumer groups to present their views in decision-making processes affecting them.
With the expansion of the guidelines, they would state that unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, particularly in industrialized countries, are the major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment. All countries should strive to promote sustainable consumption patterns and developed countries should take the lead in that regard. Developing countries should seek to achieve sustainable consumption patterns in their development process, having due regard to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Policies for promoting sustainable consumption should take into account the goals of eradicating poverty, satisfying the basic human needs of all members of society, and reducing inequality within and between countries.
The additions would also have the guidelines include the following statements:
-- Sustainable consumption includes meeting the needs of present and future generations for goods and services in ways that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable;
-- Responsibility for sustainable consumption is shared by all members and organizations of society. Governments should promote the development and implementation of policies for sustainable consumption and the integration of those policies with other public policies;
-- Governments should promote the development and use of national and international environmental health and safety standards for products and services -- such standards should not result in disguised barriers to trade;
-- Governments, in partnership with the private sector and other relevant organizations, should encourage the transformation of unsustainable consumption patterns through the development and use of new environmentally sound products and services and new technologies;
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-- Governments are encouraged to create or strengthen effective regulatory mechanisms for the protection of consumers, including aspects of sustainable consumption; and
-- Governments, in cooperation with business and other relevant groups, should develop indicators, methodologies and databases for measuring progress towards sustainable consumption at all levels -- this information should be publicly available.
A report of the Inter-Sessional Ad Hoc Working Group on Consumption and Production Patterns and on Tourism (document E/CN.17/1999/16) was also before the Commission. For a summary of that report, see Press Release ENV/DEV/500 of 19 April.
Statements
SATU HASSI, Minister for Environment and Development Cooperation of Finland, on behalf of the European Union, said there were huge disparities in consumption levels between industrial and developing countries, and between the wealthy and the poor. Unsustainable consumption and production patterns had done great environmental and social harm worldwide. A majority of those problems were being caused in industrialized countries; the most severe impacts, however, were being felt in the poorest regions of the world. While acknowledging the specific responsibility of industrialized countries and the need for improving the welfare of the poor, it was clear that sustainable consumption needed to be implemented by all countries.
She said there was an urgent need to further promote cleaner production and eco-efficiency in the various economic sectors. The potential for improved productivity of material and energy was still large and under-exploited. That was true despite the fact that measures for cleaner production and eco-efficiency had potentially large social, economic and environmental benefits. When discussing consumption and production patterns, the influence of human actions should not be underestimated. The world needed to come to a better understanding about the driving forces which influenced consumer choice and behaviour, including gender-related issues.
Education was another key factor, she said, and people needed to know about the problems related to consumption and production on health, quality of life and poverty. In that regard, issues concerning sustainable consumption and production patterns needed to be integrated into teaching curricula at all levels. Equitable sharing of access to resources was a major aspect of changing production and consumption patterns in all countries. The central goals of those efforts should be to provide at least the basic social services and food security for all people.
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EDO RONCHI, Minister for Environment of Italy, said the world was feverish, and its temperature would continue to rise unless radical lifestyle changes were made. Agenda 21 pointed to patterns of consumption and production as the major causes of environmental deterioration. In a globalized world, concerted international efforts were needed. Common action would enhance results regarding climate change, desertification, biosafety, biodiversity, deforestation and, most importantly, poverty. Consumption and production patterns were the cornerstones of sustainable development. Also essential, however, were sustainable systems of energy consumption and production, and equitable access to energy.
In addition to international efforts, there was need to redouble efforts on the national level, he said. Last December, Italy's Parliament had approved a carbon tax aimed at cutting labour costs, creating new employment, reducing the consumption of energy products with high carbon percentages in favour of more energy-efficient products, and fostering the use of renewable energy sources. Such renewables were not subject to taxation. The carbon tax was not aimed at generating revenue, but rather at influencing behaviour. By the year 2005, when it was to be fully implemented, carbon emissions could be reduced by 12 million tonnes per year -- almost one third of the reduction set for the year 2005 in the Government's decision last November to implement the Kyoto Protocol.
In 1999, the carbon tax would generate some $200 million, he continued. Most of that amount would go to reducing labour costs, and the remainder to support projects in implementing the Kyoto Protocol. The tax was widely accepted by citizens, even though it increased by about $0.015 per litre the price of unleaded gasoline. The tax was correctly perceived as an effective instrument to create new job opportunities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The success story of the carbon tax was a harbinger for the future.
FLAVIO COTTI, Observer for Switzerland, said economic growth would only translate into increased well-being of people if it followed sustainable consumption and production patterns. His country's national strategy for sustainable consumption and production included removing subsidies that were harmful to the environment, changing consumer behaviour, and initiating the use of voluntary labels for sustainable produced products. Such labelling, however, hinged on the credibility of the labels, and there was a need to ensure transparency of such a system. There had also been efforts towards ecological tax reform to encourage sustainable behaviour, especially in businesses.
Achieving sustainable patterns of consumption and production could also offer excellent business opportunities, he said. It could lead to the creation of impressive higher-level jobs and could reduce the need for administrative action by government. In some places, however, economic advantages were less obvious. That was true especially in developing countries -- international cooperation was required in that regard. Developing countries should be encouraged to use production methods that were less destructive to the
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environment than were being used now. Also, consumption and production were strongly influenced by globalization. Because of that, efforts should be taken on the international level to encourage sustainable behaviour.
SYLVESTRE NAAH ONDOA, Minister for Environment and Forests of Cameroon, said his country's numerous national efforts to protect resources had not begun with the Rio Conference. The Commission's three topics were of great concern to his Government, as Cameroon had forest ecosystems with tremendous economic potential for tourism, which should be managed sustainably. Cameroon's coastal waters were its most important zone for economic activity, and the vulnerability of those zones had been recognized in its national plan for the environment.
He then reviewed a number of projects and strategies related to sustainable development that his Government had undertaken, including a regional project on water pollution, and implementation of the Abidjan Convention relative to the protection of the coastal environment and the strategy for development and protection of coastal and marine areas in sub- Saharan Africa, elaborated at the conference in Capetown in December 1998. A national plan had been drawn up for the coastal zones, aimed at protecting biodiversity and fostering ecologically viable tourism.
The public and private sectors, local collectives, trade unions and civil society actors were to be enlisted to ensure stronger national growth, he said. Progress had been made in recent years regarding changes in production and consumption patterns. The primary national strategy for industrialization gave priority to certain sectors, and to the development of small and medium enterprises which encouraged initiatives from the poorest sectors: women, young people and the disabled. In June 1999, his country would apply its forest law, voted on in 1994, regarding exportation of certain woods, which would only be exported as finished products. While Cameroon was using its resources, it was attempting to protect its environment. Cameroon's multiple efforts for integrated management of oceans and seas and for developing viable tourism required support from the international community, including financial resources, he stressed.
LI HYONG CHOL (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) said the consumption and production patterns of each country was closely related to consumption and production in other countries; however, consumption and production was taking place in a very broad and unsustainable way. That was turning into a major challenge to the global process of achieving sustainable development. All nations were required to make concerted efforts and strengthen international cooperation aimed at reversing the imbalances and unsustainable trend of consumption and production. It was important to formulate detailed national policies in that regard and implement them effectively in close collaboration with other actors.
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He added that the present trend of international economic development, characterized by globalization, had caused a destructive financial crisis in several countries and had led to deteriorating poverty and marginalization of developing countries. Globalization had brought about a further imbalance in the field of consumption and production between the industrialized countries and the least developed countries. That showed that preventing negative effects of globalization was an urgent task facing the international community.
ALYAKSANDR SYCHOV (Belarus), also on behalf of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, said he would like to draw attention to the thirteenth anniversary of the explosion of one of the reactors at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which would be commemorated on 26 April. That catastrophe had caused damage on a huge scale, affecting the health of millions of people. It had also damaged economic and social development efforts and the environment. In spite of annual allocation of a considerable part of the budget resources to combat the dangerous aftermath of the disaster, neighbouring countries were unable to fully overcome its consequences.
He said that the effects of the catastrophe were a great impediment to sustainable development efforts, as well as to sustainable consumption and production. In that connection, his delegation hoped for greater international cooperation in mitigating the consequences of Chernobyl. In 1997, the Inter- Agency Programme of International Assistance to Areas Affected by the Chernobyl Disaster had been established in the United Nations. While $74 million was needed for the Programme, only $2 million had been received so far.
MILOS KUZVART, Minister for Environment of the Czech Republic, said that while efforts to change existing consumption and production patterns were encouraging, the results were not sufficient. In recent years, there had been progress in identifying instruments of change, but not in implementing them. Current patterns of consumption and production behaviour were gravely unsustainable. There was need to further develop policy instruments and their pilot application in different conditions, promote eco-efficiency and cleaner production, and enhance education and public awareness. Work in that direction must also be supported by the development of a relevant set of indicators, he added.
While promoting sustainable patterns was the common interest of all countries, individual approaches to the goal might differ, he said. There was need for caution. In line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, the international community must not allow new production and consumption patterns to become an obstacle for the aspirations of developing countries. The Czech Republic acknowledged the specific responsibility of industrialized countries.
Its efforts in that regard would be led by its new State Environmental Policy, adopted just days ago, he said. The Policy addressed issues of changing
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patterns of production and consumption by stressing cleaner production, voluntary initiatives, eco-labelling, and a number of other measures. More details were annexed to the text of his statement.
MOHAMED EL YAZGHI, Minister for Territorial Management, Environment, Urbanization and Habitat of Morocco, said globalization had become the major concern of countries seeking to improve the lot of their peoples, while conserving natural resources. His country was firmly committed to sustainable development, based on the belief that caring for the present would protect the future. By adopting an approach based on human rights, Morocco was preparing for a culture of sustainable development.
The tourist sector was a present and future priority, he said. Tourism must respect the natural and socio-cultural environments. His country was participating in regional and international initiatives, as well as a number of national endeavours to increase tourist sites, while protecting environment. Morocco was encouraging investment opportunities in line with sustainable tourism and development. It had set up a bureau to promote the integrated management of tourist zones.
Turning then to oceans and seas, he said Morocco's policies supported safeguarding the marine environment, in line with international commitments. Several legal texts had been adopted for responsible fishing behaviour. Due to its geographical position, and the coast and the marine area under its jurisdiction, Morocco was concerned with pollution in all forms. It wanted to better control maritime traffic and waste disposal. Measures were needed to limit the impact of the transport of dangerous products and toxic wastes in the high seas. Morocco was aware of the fragility of small island developing States, and would support the international community in protecting them.
ADEKPEDJOU AKINDES (Benin) said there was a need for the international community to focus on the environmental dimensions of consumption and production patterns in order to pass a healthy planet on to future generations. His country had set up a plan of action for the environment, as well as a centre for sustainable development. Such efforts had resulted in incorporating environmental concerns in the economic and social dimensions. Other national efforts focused on consumption of non-renewable resources, the protection of biodiversity, fishing and marine pollution. Governments needed to take measures to promote sustainable production. Industrialized countries should encourage capacities for cleaner production, especially in developing countries. They should also help developing countries to make well-considered choices for production and consumption. There was also a need to promote the transfer of technology for agricultural production and reduce the use of chemical substances.
CALDAS DE MOURA (Brazil) said his country's strategy for sustainable patterns of consumption and production was centred on its National Environmental
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Policy and the National Policy for Consumption Relations. The main objective of that strategy was to harmonize economic and social development with the protection of the environment. Measures to promote sustainable consumption affected not only the products and services used by consumers, but also the energy and materials used during production. Brazil's national strategy provided the tools to protect consumers while respecting their dignity, health and safety.
He added that national policies that deal with sustainable patterns of production and consumption focused on environmental licensing, water resource protection, the disposal of solid wastes and energy production. Civil society was very much involved in the decision-making process in Brazil's policies. There was also active participation within the National Consumer Protection System, which consisted of State and local consumer protection bodies, as well as other organizations.
CHIN-SEUNG CHUNG, Vice-Minister for Environment of the Republic of Korea, said deliberations should focus on certain priority areas. Effective policy was fundamental in promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns. There was need to concentrate on how to systematically share information on policy instruments, and the Commission could play a pivotal role in that regard. Responsibility must be shared. Without active involvement by consumers, producers and civil societies, the goal of establishing sustainable consumption and production patterns was unlikely to be achieved. Green purchasing by consumers required the availability of green choices from the market, and proper information to educate consumers.
As part of the process of globalization, he said that global information could facilitate the free flow of ideas, but could also result in the transfer of consumption patterns. The developed countries' model of consumption could raise the aspirations of developing countries. There was need for more comprehensive debate on such a transfer.
Traditional lifestyle and cultural values often provided ecological wisdom and could be the basis for sustainable consumption, he said. Traditional practices must be identified, with a view to disseminating best practices for possible emulation. Environmental concepts were better understood by consumers when taught through traditional and cultural means. The transfer of environmentally sound technologies was critical to fostering sustainable patterns in developing countries; developed countries should explore ways to facilitate such transfer. Sustainable consumption and production approaches should be part of urban planning, particularly regarding transportation, energy, water, sanitation and waste management.
The issues involved were cross-cutting and required a holistic response, he said. The Commission work must be implemented in close relation with other important sectoral environmental issues, such as energy, agriculture and transportation.
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KJELL LARSSON, Minister for the Environment of Sweden, said the global inequalities were grotesque. According to the 1998 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the richest 20 per cent of the world population accounted for 86 per cent of private expenditures on consumption, compared to the poorest 20 per cent being responsible for only 1.3 per cent. The report proposed action based on: raising consumption levels for the poor; reducing environmental damage and improving resource efficiency; protecting and promoting consumer rights; discouraging unsustainable consumption; and achieving a more equitable international burden-sharing for sustainable consumption. Those goals should be the platform for the Commission's future work.
It was now becoming increasingly clear that everyday decisions made by individuals and companies did make a difference, he said. As long as there was failure to address habits and customs, no real progress would be made. Sweden had promoted sustainable consumption and production patterns through a number of measures. For example, in the past 10 years, due to eco-labelling, 60 per cent of household chemicals had disappeared or been replaced. Economic incentives had been an integral part of Sweden's environmental policy since the 1970s. Moving towards "green tax", taxes on labour had been reduced and environmentally related taxes introduced. There were limits on what a single country could do on its own, however, and other countries should introduce or increase the use of economic instruments, such as energy and carbon taxes.
He welcomed the project on the "factor 10 approach" by the Nordic Council of Ministers, based on industrialized countries seeking to achieve a tenfold efficiency improvement in the use of energy and natural resources during the next three to five decades. Both technological and social innovations would be needed to realize the vision of "factor 10". The two overriding issues of poverty eradication and sustainable production and consumption patterns should be better addressed. The Secretary-General should designate task managers responsible for ensuring that those aspects were taken into account within the different themes under the Commission's work programme.
Dialogue Segment on Sustainable Consumption and Production
The representative of the United States said the growing role played by older persons had been overlooked in the Commission's consideration of the topic. That groups should be included in the Commission's texts when it referred to other stake-holders.
The speaker for Finland said countries needed to ensure proper procurement polices to encourage sustained demand for eco-friendly products. There was also a need to limit the harmful effects of economic growth such as the production of wastes and energy consumption.
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The representative of Consumers International said extending the Consumer Protection Guidelines to include sustainable consumption initiatives was a crucial step forward. Since the Guidelines had been adopted in 1984, sustainable consumption had been recognized with increasing urgency as a consumer protection issue, and the proposed new Guidelines would be equally effective as a tool for promoting effective action.
JAMES GUSTAVE SPETH, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said this year's human development report identified the extraordinary destruction to the environment that had been caused by consumption levels. There were two important areas of note in that regard. One was the extraordinary developments on the technological front. Countries had to be willing to put in place the economic incentives to drive eco-friendly technology forward and make it available to developing countries. The second was community- led initiatives which brought together efforts to regenerate the environment. That was a crucial breakthrough that UNDP was studying.
The representative of China stressed the importance of technological transfers and the promotion of environmentally friendly technology. At the same time, the exchange of information between developed and developing countries should also be enhanced.
A representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said changing consumption and production meant changing behaviour. In that regard, it was important to include children and all other groups in such efforts. It was also important that the Commission gave education appropriate emphasis in the decisions taken under all its agenda items.
A representative of the International Chamber of Commerce said businesses were actively working towards sustainable consumption and production. However, they could not support the inclusion of sustainable consumption in the Consumer Protection Guidelines. Such a move would dilute the clarity of the original 1985 document. Businesses fully supported the original Guidelines. He added that businesses had been given no opportunity to voice its concerns when the additions to the Guidelines were being considered.
The Commission then moved to the subject of natural resource management and eco-efficiency.
Turkey's representative said that, in her country, research had been conducted regarding the eco-efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises. Only a small number had sustainable production patterns, which, in part, required the transfer of technology from developed countries. She called for international support for small and medium-sized enterprises in developing cleaner production patterns, possibly by reducing the costs of technology transfer.
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The representative of Australia said he was puzzled by the objection by business to sustainable development.
An industry representative said the objection was on including sustainable consumption within the guidelines, as that was not the additional purpose of the document, and could, therefore, dilute it.
Australia's representative said the text gave government guidance, and picked up important issues, such as target setting and labelling schemes. But part of the change in direction that the Commission was striving for required creating partnerships with those that could influence outcomes. In this case, that meant with business and consumers. The way business had taken on the challenge of cleaner production and eco-efficiency was encouraging, and governments should support such efforts. Businesses knew about economic efficiency. To get them to take on ecological efficiency, it had to be a win-win equation.
SIMON UPTON (New Zealand), Commission Chairman, agreed with that, while stressing that reaching small and medium-sized enterprises was generally the most difficult.
The representative of Egypt agreed with Australia's comments. Why were the guidelines addressed only to governments? he asked. Every sentence in the draft began with exhortations to governments. Were other stakeholders to be addressed? Also, the draft text asked for studies to be undertaken. What was the purpose of those studies? he asked.
The Commission's Vice-Chairman, NAVID HANIF (Pakistan), said the guidelines were based on the premise that consumers had rights which national governments were responsible for safeguarding. Governments had decided that non-governmental organizations could not be asked to safeguard those rights. Governments would fulfil their responsibilities by measures, including creating an enabling environment for business to promote such rights.
Norway believed in everyone doing their part, that country's representative said. Companies and local and national governments must make indicators and report on the results of their actions. For businesses, that would be an important guideline for investors and create a momentum driven independently from governments.
A representative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development appreciated comments regarding progress made on the production side. The consumption side was more complicated. The two must be viewed together, rather than as distinct sides of the market, as Agenda 21 seemed to imply. Business was now looking at achieving sustainability through market mechanisms. It was exploring new ways to satisfy needs using different products, to raise the standard of living for the global population and
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minimize degradation and unsustainable processes. Market forces could be used to generate incentives throughout the supply chain for sustainability. The key was not producing and consuming less, he stressed, but rather producing and consuming differently. That could be achieved without worsening environmental degradation and threatening life.
Argentina's representative said that, for developing countries, it was more practical to begin acting on the supply side, which would naturally lead to consumers consuming goods that were produced sustainably. Her country had had a chronically regulated market that had been a disaster. Some 10 years ago, it had deregulated the market which had then moved naturally, without enforcement, to more sustainable means of production. In developing countries, action should begin at the supply side, with deregulating instead of regulating.
The representative of Saudi Arabia said the issue of consumption and production patterns should be dealt with regarding developing countries. Unsustainable models in developing countries were the main focus for policies being adopted. Developing countries must not be dealt with in the same manner as developed countries. Statements from industrialized countries highlighted efforts such as carbon taxes. Italy's representative had said his country's carbon tax would provide millions in savings. That might create competition among producer countries for income through the sale of their resources.
There was great contradiction in the fact that policies pursued by developed countries negatively impacted developing countries, he said. A number of subsidies existed regarding carbon, which was readily available in some countries. The Commission should discuss the question in depth to ensure equity and ensure that developing countries were not harmed by policies pursued in that sphere.
The representative of the Netherlands said countries should take efforts to examine their ecological footprints -- the environmental effect they had on the globe. Particularly for industrialized countries, that would be an important way for evaluating their consumption patterns.
The CHAIRMAN added, in that regard, that such an examination would have to be global in nature and that would make for a difficult evaluation.
The representative of the Netherlands agreed and said that examining ecological footprints would include addressing world-wide energy consumption and other factors. Such an examination would also help in making better domestic policies.
NITIN DESAI, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said that examining environmental footsteps would require significant study,
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but it would be a useful step in evaluating consumption and production patterns.
A representative of a non-governmental organization said the Commission should send a strong message to the World Trade Organization (WTO) that there needed to be limits to economic growth. It should also encourage the WTO to emphasize environmental concerns and international cooperation.
The representative of Pakistan said it was agreed in the Rio Conference that developed countries would take the lead in controlling production and consumption patterns. The Commission should recommend action in regard to consumption and production that incorporated the needs of the poor and the use of renewable resources in the production process.
The representative of Germany, for the European Union, said the role of trade in consumption and production patterns should be stressed and recognized. The Commission should send a strong and clear message to the WTO that environmental concerns should be addressed in further trade agreements.
A representative of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions said it was necessary to move from words to actions in regard to consumption and production. The WTO should not determine environmental issues because the world's natural resources could not be sold and bought. He stressed the need to include workers in efforts to promote sustainable consumption and production.
The representative of Denmark said a sustainability assessment by countries could be completed before the next round of trade liberalization talks by the WTO.
The representative of Poland said there was a need to stimulate activity in the field of education, not only for consumers, but also for producers and decision makers.
The representative of Iran said that the different aspects of the energy sector were of prime importance to many countries. Any substantial discussion of the energy issue had to be preceded by submissions of information and views by member States. He added that one good option for discussion on energy could be the expansion of carbon-dioxide capture, storage and utilization. Carbon-dioxide capture and storage had been assessed by some developed countries to be more cost-effective than using renewable resources.
The representative of Denmark stressed the importance of sharing technologies such as the use of solar energy and renewable resources.
The CHAIRMAN read a draft summary of the high-level segment of the Commission. In addition to consumption and production, the high-level segment
Sustainable Development Commission - 16 - Press Release ENV/DEV/509 12th Meeting (PM) 23 April 1999
had focused on the issues of: tourism, oceans and seas, and small island developing States. The summary reflected recommendations and comments made by ministers and other representatives during the three-day segment. The summary would be discussed further next week in the Commission and would then be included in the Commission's report on its seventh session. He also opened the floor to comments on the summary.
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