About #BB4SCP - Building Bridges for Sustainable Consumption & Production
What is #BB4SCP all about?
Sustainable consumption & production is about promoting resource & energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, green & decent jobs and a better quality of life for all. Its implementation helps to achieve overall development plans, reduce future economic, environmental & social costs, strengthen economic competitiveness and reduce poverty.
Sustainable consumption and production aims at “doing more & better with less,” increasing net welfare gains from economic activities by reducing resource use, degradation & pollution along the whole lifecycle, while increasing quality of life. It involves different stakeholders, including business, consumers, policy makers, researchers, scientists, retailers, media, & development cooperation agencies, among others.
It also requires a systemic approach & cooperation among actors operating in the supply chain, from producer to final consumer. It involves engaging consumers through awareness-raising & education on sustainable consumption & lifestyles, providing consumers with adequate information through standards & labels & engaging in sustainable public procurement, among others.
Fun Facts
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If people worldwide switched to energy efficient lightbulbs the world would save US$120 billion annually
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One-fifth of the world’s final energy consumption in 2013 was from renewables.
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Each year, an estimated one third of all food produced – equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes worth around $1 trillion – ends up rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers, or spoiling due to poor transportation & harvesting practices
Under the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Programme, a youth programme called Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Consumption & Production (YESCP) programme supports WWF’ conservation work by encouraging youth to switch to an alternative, more sustainable lifestyle through an examination of their consumption choices.
YESCP focuses on carbon emissions from electricity consumptions, Climate Change, & 3 key Commodities:
Four commodities under the YESCP programme
Thus the programme embraces the ECO-LABELS associated with these 3 KEY COMMODITIES to promote sustainable management & practices:
Goal 12 Targets
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Implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption & production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries
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By 2030, achieve the sustainable management & efficient use of natural resources
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By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail & consumer levels & reduce food losses along production & supply chains, including post-harvest losses
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By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals & all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, & significantly reduce their release to air, water & soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
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By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
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Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices & to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle
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Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies & priorities
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By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information & awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
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Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific & technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
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Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs & promotes local culture & products
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Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation & phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs & conditions of developing countries & minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor & the affected communities