UNEP
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen
The world as we know it is changing at an ever faster pace. However, in addition to the benefits and opportunities created by globalization, crises are also becoming more and more frequent: financial, food, and energy. Natural disasters are taking their toll on human life and on economies, and man-made disasters and pollution are threatening ecosystems? regenerating capacities.
We need to shift towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production of goods and services; to link transport and land use so that we create cities and towns and suburbs where mobility no longer depends on private cars; to create green and decent jobs; to build sound management of chemicals into poverty-reduction strategies; to reduce, reuse and recycle; and to be smarter about our mineral extraction so that mining reaches its full potential in mineral-rich developing nations in a sustainable manner. Simply put, we need to do more and better with less.
The themes of this CSD cycle are all linked, and effective policies and sustainable investment in the transport, chemicals, waste and mining sectors will contribute to increased resource efficiency, conserving ecosystems and moving towards a low-carbon, green economy. Sound environmental policies to promote resource efficiency are not only about environmental gains, but also offer many important social and economic gains. For example, the cost of solid waste management alone represents on average between 20 and 50 per cent of most cities? budgets and the global market for environmental goods and services is projected to double from the present US$1.37 trillion to US$2.74 trillion by 2020.
UNEP has been working on these themes for some years and, as the discussions before you unfold, we would like to respectfully suggest that you keep in your mind a number of points.
First, on transport:
This sector is responsible for 24 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, and represents 67 per cent of world petroleum use; restructuring it will be central to an effective new climate regime. We need a comprehensive, global approach that delivers policies and measures to avoid emissions by reducing demand through better urban design and transport planning yet maintain or increase mobility, to shift to less energy-intensive modes of transport, and to clean our transport systems by using low-carbon modes and technologies.
On chemicals:
Developing countries are now consuming chemicals at a rate faster than developed countries, and could account for a third of global consumption by 2020. Yet little is known about the environmental, social and economic impact of inadequate chemicals management in many countries. There is an urgent need for increased capacity in these countries for managing the risks posed by chemicals and hazardous waste, for coherent international tools and guidance for risk assessment and management, for international cooperation to increase knowledge and access to information, and for adaptation of assessment tools and methodologies to suit national conditions.
On waste management:
Unsustainable patterns of production and consumption have brought an increase in the amount and variety of waste, yet waste management and resource recovery are low on the agendas of many countries. We need to make less waste, recover from the waste that we do make all its useful materials and energy, and develop integrated waste management policies at local and national levels. Cleaner production and life-cycle waste management systems need to be strengthened; emerging waste streams such as electronic waste, plastics, chemicals and used oils need to be quantified and assessed for recycling; and policies are needed to promote sustainable materials management. We also need to strengthen international cooperation through mechanisms like establishing Global Platform on Waste Management.
On mining:
The mining sector is strategically important because it provides the resources needed for economic development, yet in most mineral-rich developing countries it has not reached its full potential. Environmental impacts have increased as mining has pushed into sensitive and fragile areas. The challenge faced by the international community is to develop a comprehensive, global approach to mining in the context of the need to move to a low-carbon, green economy.
On the 10-Year Framework of Programmes:
First, of all, let me congratulate the Africa Group for its notable achievements, and leadership role in the area of sustainable consumption and production. Namely, as we know, Africa was the first continent to develop a regional strategy, and it has now launched a 10 Year Framework of Programmes for the region.
We at UNEP believe the global 10YFP could have clear programmes, some of which focus on SCP policies and cross-cutting programmes, and others that focus on key resource-intensive sectors that are crucial if we are to increase resource efficiency and decouple economic growth from development.
Our call for you is to use existing processes, as a lot has been already achieved, as Africa?s experience shows. The Marrakech Process, launched in 2003, has had considerable success facilitating national, regional and international discussions on sustainable consumption and production with governments, agencies, major groups, business and industrial sectors. These consultations have enabled the development of regional SCP programmes or strategies in Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Arab region. The first of them were developed in Africa and Latin America, highlighting the growing recognition that SCP contributes to poverty eradication.
The seven voluntary task forces of the Marrakech Process are led by governments, have a range of partners and stakeholders, and focus on key SCP issues such as sustainable lifestyles, education for
sustainable consumption, sustainable public procurement, sustainable products, sustainable buildings and construction and sustainable tourism. One task force focuses on a region -- Africa ? harnessing the power of international cooperation to maximize the potential of sustainable consumption and production to improve lives.
These task forces have had some successes: They have developed a practical approach to sustainable public procurement, researched sustainable lifestyles, promoted energy efficiency in buildings and construction, and developed a range of innovative policies and initiatives.
Scaled-up, funded and backed by policies and mechanisms in a 10-year framework of programmes, these kinds of task forces could deliver much more. They could easily become a significant implementing tool for sustainable consumption and production; task forces like these could help developing countries improve the livelihoods of their people by ?leapfrogging? costly, resource-intensive inefficient modes of economic development and completing their transition to a 21st century green economy.
One vision set out for 2050 is of a world of nine billion resource-efficient inhabitants, who have left behind unsustainable practices of consumption and production, who use renewable energy and clean transport systems, and who all enjoy good quality of life and sustainable lifestyles.
The world as we know it is changing at an ever faster pace. However, in addition to the benefits and opportunities created by globalization, crises are also becoming more and more frequent: financial, food, and energy. Natural disasters are taking their toll on human life and on economies, and man-made disasters and pollution are threatening ecosystems? regenerating capacities.
We need to shift towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production of goods and services; to link transport and land use so that we create cities and towns and suburbs where mobility no longer depends on private cars; to create green and decent jobs; to build sound management of chemicals into poverty-reduction strategies; to reduce, reuse and recycle; and to be smarter about our mineral extraction so that mining reaches its full potential in mineral-rich developing nations in a sustainable manner. Simply put, we need to do more and better with less.
The themes of this CSD cycle are all linked, and effective policies and sustainable investment in the transport, chemicals, waste and mining sectors will contribute to increased resource efficiency, conserving ecosystems and moving towards a low-carbon, green economy. Sound environmental policies to promote resource efficiency are not only about environmental gains, but also offer many important social and economic gains. For example, the cost of solid waste management alone represents on average between 20 and 50 per cent of most cities? budgets and the global market for environmental goods and services is projected to double from the present US$1.37 trillion to US$2.74 trillion by 2020.
UNEP has been working on these themes for some years and, as the discussions before you unfold, we would like to respectfully suggest that you keep in your mind a number of points.
First, on transport:
This sector is responsible for 24 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, and represents 67 per cent of world petroleum use; restructuring it will be central to an effective new climate regime. We need a comprehensive, global approach that delivers policies and measures to avoid emissions by reducing demand through better urban design and transport planning yet maintain or increase mobility, to shift to less energy-intensive modes of transport, and to clean our transport systems by using low-carbon modes and technologies.
On chemicals:
Developing countries are now consuming chemicals at a rate faster than developed countries, and could account for a third of global consumption by 2020. Yet little is known about the environmental, social and economic impact of inadequate chemicals management in many countries. There is an urgent need for increased capacity in these countries for managing the risks posed by chemicals and hazardous waste, for coherent international tools and guidance for risk assessment and management, for international cooperation to increase knowledge and access to information, and for adaptation of assessment tools and methodologies to suit national conditions.
On waste management:
Unsustainable patterns of production and consumption have brought an increase in the amount and variety of waste, yet waste management and resource recovery are low on the agendas of many countries. We need to make less waste, recover from the waste that we do make all its useful materials and energy, and develop integrated waste management policies at local and national levels. Cleaner production and life-cycle waste management systems need to be strengthened; emerging waste streams such as electronic waste, plastics, chemicals and used oils need to be quantified and assessed for recycling; and policies are needed to promote sustainable materials management. We also need to strengthen international cooperation through mechanisms like establishing Global Platform on Waste Management.
On mining:
The mining sector is strategically important because it provides the resources needed for economic development, yet in most mineral-rich developing countries it has not reached its full potential. Environmental impacts have increased as mining has pushed into sensitive and fragile areas. The challenge faced by the international community is to develop a comprehensive, global approach to mining in the context of the need to move to a low-carbon, green economy.
On the 10-Year Framework of Programmes:
First, of all, let me congratulate the Africa Group for its notable achievements, and leadership role in the area of sustainable consumption and production. Namely, as we know, Africa was the first continent to develop a regional strategy, and it has now launched a 10 Year Framework of Programmes for the region.
We at UNEP believe the global 10YFP could have clear programmes, some of which focus on SCP policies and cross-cutting programmes, and others that focus on key resource-intensive sectors that are crucial if we are to increase resource efficiency and decouple economic growth from development.
Our call for you is to use existing processes, as a lot has been already achieved, as Africa?s experience shows. The Marrakech Process, launched in 2003, has had considerable success facilitating national, regional and international discussions on sustainable consumption and production with governments, agencies, major groups, business and industrial sectors. These consultations have enabled the development of regional SCP programmes or strategies in Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Arab region. The first of them were developed in Africa and Latin America, highlighting the growing recognition that SCP contributes to poverty eradication.
The seven voluntary task forces of the Marrakech Process are led by governments, have a range of partners and stakeholders, and focus on key SCP issues such as sustainable lifestyles, education for
sustainable consumption, sustainable public procurement, sustainable products, sustainable buildings and construction and sustainable tourism. One task force focuses on a region -- Africa ? harnessing the power of international cooperation to maximize the potential of sustainable consumption and production to improve lives.
These task forces have had some successes: They have developed a practical approach to sustainable public procurement, researched sustainable lifestyles, promoted energy efficiency in buildings and construction, and developed a range of innovative policies and initiatives.
Scaled-up, funded and backed by policies and mechanisms in a 10-year framework of programmes, these kinds of task forces could deliver much more. They could easily become a significant implementing tool for sustainable consumption and production; task forces like these could help developing countries improve the livelihoods of their people by ?leapfrogging? costly, resource-intensive inefficient modes of economic development and completing their transition to a 21st century green economy.
One vision set out for 2050 is of a world of nine billion resource-efficient inhabitants, who have left behind unsustainable practices of consumption and production, who use renewable energy and clean transport systems, and who all enjoy good quality of life and sustainable lifestyles.
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