European Union
EU speaking points "Sustainable consumption and production"
HLPF session, 2 July, 10:00 – 11:30
The EU and its MS recall that the Rio+20 outcome document The Future We Want emphasizes that “poverty eradication, the promotion of sustainable consumption and production (SCP), and the protection and management of natural resources are the overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development”.
The EU and its MS welcome the fact that Sustainable Consumption and Production is an integral part of the OWG proposal on SDGs. Goal 12 on "ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns” features as a stand-alone goal for SCP. In addition, SCP-related targets are integrated in 13 out of the 17 proposed SDGs, thus making SCP a cross-cutting enabler for achieving sustainable development globally.
For us, it is important to embed the objective of SCP in the SDGs to ensure that SCP becomes a part of doing business rather than an optional extra. This can result in reduced environmental impacts due to more efficient resource consumption and reduced waste. It will also enable countries to achieve their goals in poverty eradication without undermining the basis of human development.
The EU and its MS believe that the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP), adopted in Rio+20, can function as a purpose-built global implementation mechanism and multi-stakeholder partnership for the post-2015 agenda, especially in relation to SCP goal 12 and SCP-related targets. The framework and its programmes can provide concrete tools to put the SDG’s into practice after the adoption of the post-2015 agenda.
We welcome the progress in the implementation of the five initial thematic programmes (1. Sustainable Public Procurement; 2. Consumer Information; 3. Sustainable Lifestyles and Education; 4. Sustainable Tourism, including eco-tourism; and 5. Sustainable Buildings and Construction) and consider the sixth programme on Sustainable Food Systems, which has been under consultation, as an important new area of cooperation. All six programmes have a great potential to accelerate the global shift towards sustainable consumption and production.
The 10YFP focuses on building the capacities and policies required for this shift and it is clear that both public and private finance is needed to make it happen. Member States, the private sector and financial institutions should therefore step up in their efforts to secure adequate funding for the implementation of the framework and its programmes.
We endorse and appreciate UNEPs work as the Secretariat of the 10YFP. We also encourage UNEP to explore how the synergies between various UNEP programmes could reinforce the 10YFP to become eventually an important global implementation mechanism and partnership for the post-2015 agenda. We welcome the valuable and ongoing work of the International Resources Panel (IRP), for example with regard to identifying the interlinkages between natural resources and socio-economic systems. In addition, we are willing to advance the development of concrete indicators for SCP in cooperation with the UN Statistical Office and the Statistical Offices in the MS as well as with UNEP and other UN agencies relevant for SCP policies.
All in all, the European Union and its Member States consider Sustainable Consumption and Production as a positive agenda. It is about doing “more and better with less”. We perceive SCP as a global challenge, providing opportunities to all countries. We agree that the developed countries and countries with high material consumption should provide leadership in promoting the shift to SCP patterns, but all countries should improve their performance. Finally, we believe that SCP can provide a concrete response to fulfil people’s basic needs in a sustainable manner. The sustainable provision of materials, energy, food, water and shelter are central to ensuring that one billion people are lifted out of poverty and that health and wellbeing of many others is improved or maintained.
The European Union and its Member States have been actively pursuing SCP policies and operating a great variety of SCP instruments. SCP policies and programmes, including in the 10YFP, are helping to secure the resource base which underpins development by improving environmental performance, enhancing resource-, energy- and material efficiency, facilitating innovation, changing lifestyles and building capacity for climate-smart solutions, while taking into account social and ethical aspects of consumption and production. SCP thus is key in decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, creating decent green jobs and contributing to poverty eradication and shared prosperity.
It is important for the EU and its MS that SCP will remain as an integral universal, integrated and transformative element of the Post-2015 agenda. We believe that the principles of SCP, and implementation mechanism offered by the 10YFP, are relevant also for the Financing for Sustainable Development conference in Addis Ababa in July.
HLPF session, 2 July, 10:00 – 11:30
The EU and its MS recall that the Rio+20 outcome document The Future We Want emphasizes that “poverty eradication, the promotion of sustainable consumption and production (SCP), and the protection and management of natural resources are the overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development”.
The EU and its MS welcome the fact that Sustainable Consumption and Production is an integral part of the OWG proposal on SDGs. Goal 12 on "ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns” features as a stand-alone goal for SCP. In addition, SCP-related targets are integrated in 13 out of the 17 proposed SDGs, thus making SCP a cross-cutting enabler for achieving sustainable development globally.
For us, it is important to embed the objective of SCP in the SDGs to ensure that SCP becomes a part of doing business rather than an optional extra. This can result in reduced environmental impacts due to more efficient resource consumption and reduced waste. It will also enable countries to achieve their goals in poverty eradication without undermining the basis of human development.
The EU and its MS believe that the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP), adopted in Rio+20, can function as a purpose-built global implementation mechanism and multi-stakeholder partnership for the post-2015 agenda, especially in relation to SCP goal 12 and SCP-related targets. The framework and its programmes can provide concrete tools to put the SDG’s into practice after the adoption of the post-2015 agenda.
We welcome the progress in the implementation of the five initial thematic programmes (1. Sustainable Public Procurement; 2. Consumer Information; 3. Sustainable Lifestyles and Education; 4. Sustainable Tourism, including eco-tourism; and 5. Sustainable Buildings and Construction) and consider the sixth programme on Sustainable Food Systems, which has been under consultation, as an important new area of cooperation. All six programmes have a great potential to accelerate the global shift towards sustainable consumption and production.
The 10YFP focuses on building the capacities and policies required for this shift and it is clear that both public and private finance is needed to make it happen. Member States, the private sector and financial institutions should therefore step up in their efforts to secure adequate funding for the implementation of the framework and its programmes.
We endorse and appreciate UNEPs work as the Secretariat of the 10YFP. We also encourage UNEP to explore how the synergies between various UNEP programmes could reinforce the 10YFP to become eventually an important global implementation mechanism and partnership for the post-2015 agenda. We welcome the valuable and ongoing work of the International Resources Panel (IRP), for example with regard to identifying the interlinkages between natural resources and socio-economic systems. In addition, we are willing to advance the development of concrete indicators for SCP in cooperation with the UN Statistical Office and the Statistical Offices in the MS as well as with UNEP and other UN agencies relevant for SCP policies.
All in all, the European Union and its Member States consider Sustainable Consumption and Production as a positive agenda. It is about doing “more and better with less”. We perceive SCP as a global challenge, providing opportunities to all countries. We agree that the developed countries and countries with high material consumption should provide leadership in promoting the shift to SCP patterns, but all countries should improve their performance. Finally, we believe that SCP can provide a concrete response to fulfil people’s basic needs in a sustainable manner. The sustainable provision of materials, energy, food, water and shelter are central to ensuring that one billion people are lifted out of poverty and that health and wellbeing of many others is improved or maintained.
The European Union and its Member States have been actively pursuing SCP policies and operating a great variety of SCP instruments. SCP policies and programmes, including in the 10YFP, are helping to secure the resource base which underpins development by improving environmental performance, enhancing resource-, energy- and material efficiency, facilitating innovation, changing lifestyles and building capacity for climate-smart solutions, while taking into account social and ethical aspects of consumption and production. SCP thus is key in decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, creating decent green jobs and contributing to poverty eradication and shared prosperity.
It is important for the EU and its MS that SCP will remain as an integral universal, integrated and transformative element of the Post-2015 agenda. We believe that the principles of SCP, and implementation mechanism offered by the 10YFP, are relevant also for the Financing for Sustainable Development conference in Addis Ababa in July.
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