One planet living – the case for SCP in the Post 2015 sustainable development framework
One planet living – the case for SCP in the Post 2015 sustainable development framework
Good morning. My name is Sue Riddlestone of BioRegional Development Group. We are the focal point for SCP for Beyond 2015, a global coalition of over 800 civil society organisations. We are also the global focal point for NGOs for the ten year framework of programmes on SCP.
This morning I will highlight key points from a report we produced on SCP in the Post 2015 Framework, with input from major civil society organisations. I will discuss what is SCP and how does it fit with the Post 2015 framework and offer you concrete recommendations for targets and indicators. The recommendations are evidence based, drawing on the latest literature and on the current themes of the post 2015 negotiations.
It’s a difficult job for you to try to decide how to include so many important topics in the Post 2015 sustainable development framework. And sustainable consumption and production. How does that fit? Most people say “what is SCP!?” At BioRegional, we implement sustainable communities and sustainable products and services. We had been doing this for 15 years before I ever heard anybody say to us “you are doing SCP" We, and many we work with would define SCP as finding ways to live our daily lives and produce the things we need within the natural limits of the planet, leaving space for nature & in a way which treats people fairly.
So, our first key point is that it is really important to make the Post 2015 framework, and within that SCP, relevant to 7 billion people, rich and poor living their everyday lives.
We have found that ecological footprint is a good communications tool that makes it easier for people to understand resource consumption and equity You can see that in 1985 we started to exceed what the planet could replenish annually. Now we are consuming 50% more annually and are seeing the results of this in many ways including disappearing forests and fisheries and climate change. You can see that carbon in purple comprises about half of the ecological footprint.
And different countries are consuming at different rates. At the far left you can see UAE and the USA, with the sustainable level of resource consumption shown by the line, so they are consuming too much, whilst at the same time so many don’t have enough, and at the other end you can see Haiti, and Afghanistan.
What that means is if everyone lived the global middle class lifestyle everyone aspires to then we would need three planets. What we need is “one planet living” where everyone can live happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the world’s resources.
Developed,
rich countries on the left need to become more resource efficient
Our
own work has shown in real homes and businesses that that is possible to achieve one planet living - and not only this - but sustainable living is better living, better for health and well-being and often saving money.
Countries
on the left need sustainable development where they grow in a way that is sustainable for future generations.
This chart shows the goal of sustainable resource consumption with high Human Development Index in the box in the bottom right. You can see that population is a factor. In 1961 when I was born there were only 3 billion people and it was easier to meet the target - but as I said we know it can be done - if we have the will to do it.
These charts show how SCP and Sustainable Development have one and the same goal, living good lives within the natural limits of the planet. The agreement at Rio+20 to make the SDGs universal and people centred means that it will be about how people live their lives, what they need and what they consume. This naturally addresses both SCP& sustainable development and makes the Post 2015 framework relevant to everyone in every country.
Sustainable Consumption and Production is and must be integral to the post 2015 framework, contained in the top-line vision and in every goal through SCP targets and indicators.
This is not just a job for the UN. It is critical that society is involved in achieving sustainable living in their communities and businesses in line with Principle 10 of the Rio declaration. Our report looks at the role of governments, business and citizens. Technology and innovation is also critical both high tech, but also simple solutions.
In the second part of the paper from page 16-25 we have taken five broad areas shown here which are seen as likely themes for the post 2015 goals most closely related to SCP and proposed some targets and indicators for SCP within them. As they are broad areas, Governments should be able to use them whatever the exact goals end up being.
1. Ending extreme poverty, reducing inequality, securing social justice
2. Securing sustainable, clean energy for all with climate protection
3. Food security, good nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food production
4. Sustainable water consumption and management, achieving universal access to water and sanitation
5. Protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services and ensuring sustainable natural resource management.
Looking at two examples from the report:
Our human lives and economies depend on our natural resources and so it is in nation’s self interest to manage this in a resource constrained world. In goal area 5 we propose a target related to sustainable natural resource management and some indicators. This could be linked to the UN system of environmental economic accounts (SEEA) which many governments are already doing.
Here you can see the components of what we consume energy, transport, shelter, goods and of course Food, which accounts for around 20% wherever we live in the world. Globally we see malnutrition and under-consumption of food, at the same time as obesity and overconsumption. At the retreat we held for governments on SCP in December food waste was mentioned as a big issue by a south east Asia diplomat. He is right! Globally a third of food is wasted, in developing countries because it cannot get to market on time and in rich countries largely because food is not valued enough and is thrown away. We propose a target and indicators for food waste. In the report we intentionally do not specify the numbers at this stage, this can be decided later. The 10YFP is an important existing mechanism to implement SCP, it could naturally include sustainable food production systems for example.
We have identified 28 possible targets. There will be other goal areas not covered here where similar targets and indicators for SCP could be identified, ideally drawing on existing data.
Please do read the report, we have some copies for delegates or you can download it. If you would like to discuss this further we’d be happy to meet with you. Also my colleague Freya Seath is speaking at a side event today at 1.15 in Room 7 in North Lawn building 10YFP and SDGs. Thank you
Good morning. My name is Sue Riddlestone of BioRegional Development Group. We are the focal point for SCP for Beyond 2015, a global coalition of over 800 civil society organisations. We are also the global focal point for NGOs for the ten year framework of programmes on SCP.
This morning I will highlight key points from a report we produced on SCP in the Post 2015 Framework, with input from major civil society organisations. I will discuss what is SCP and how does it fit with the Post 2015 framework and offer you concrete recommendations for targets and indicators. The recommendations are evidence based, drawing on the latest literature and on the current themes of the post 2015 negotiations.
It’s a difficult job for you to try to decide how to include so many important topics in the Post 2015 sustainable development framework. And sustainable consumption and production. How does that fit? Most people say “what is SCP!?” At BioRegional, we implement sustainable communities and sustainable products and services. We had been doing this for 15 years before I ever heard anybody say to us “you are doing SCP" We, and many we work with would define SCP as finding ways to live our daily lives and produce the things we need within the natural limits of the planet, leaving space for nature & in a way which treats people fairly.
So, our first key point is that it is really important to make the Post 2015 framework, and within that SCP, relevant to 7 billion people, rich and poor living their everyday lives.
We have found that ecological footprint is a good communications tool that makes it easier for people to understand resource consumption and equity You can see that in 1985 we started to exceed what the planet could replenish annually. Now we are consuming 50% more annually and are seeing the results of this in many ways including disappearing forests and fisheries and climate change. You can see that carbon in purple comprises about half of the ecological footprint.
And different countries are consuming at different rates. At the far left you can see UAE and the USA, with the sustainable level of resource consumption shown by the line, so they are consuming too much, whilst at the same time so many don’t have enough, and at the other end you can see Haiti, and Afghanistan.
What that means is if everyone lived the global middle class lifestyle everyone aspires to then we would need three planets. What we need is “one planet living” where everyone can live happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the world’s resources.
Developed,
rich countries on the left need to become more resource efficient
Our
own work has shown in real homes and businesses that that is possible to achieve one planet living - and not only this - but sustainable living is better living, better for health and well-being and often saving money.
Countries
on the left need sustainable development where they grow in a way that is sustainable for future generations.
This chart shows the goal of sustainable resource consumption with high Human Development Index in the box in the bottom right. You can see that population is a factor. In 1961 when I was born there were only 3 billion people and it was easier to meet the target - but as I said we know it can be done - if we have the will to do it.
These charts show how SCP and Sustainable Development have one and the same goal, living good lives within the natural limits of the planet. The agreement at Rio+20 to make the SDGs universal and people centred means that it will be about how people live their lives, what they need and what they consume. This naturally addresses both SCP& sustainable development and makes the Post 2015 framework relevant to everyone in every country.
Sustainable Consumption and Production is and must be integral to the post 2015 framework, contained in the top-line vision and in every goal through SCP targets and indicators.
This is not just a job for the UN. It is critical that society is involved in achieving sustainable living in their communities and businesses in line with Principle 10 of the Rio declaration. Our report looks at the role of governments, business and citizens. Technology and innovation is also critical both high tech, but also simple solutions.
In the second part of the paper from page 16-25 we have taken five broad areas shown here which are seen as likely themes for the post 2015 goals most closely related to SCP and proposed some targets and indicators for SCP within them. As they are broad areas, Governments should be able to use them whatever the exact goals end up being.
1. Ending extreme poverty, reducing inequality, securing social justice
2. Securing sustainable, clean energy for all with climate protection
3. Food security, good nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food production
4. Sustainable water consumption and management, achieving universal access to water and sanitation
5. Protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services and ensuring sustainable natural resource management.
Looking at two examples from the report:
Our human lives and economies depend on our natural resources and so it is in nation’s self interest to manage this in a resource constrained world. In goal area 5 we propose a target related to sustainable natural resource management and some indicators. This could be linked to the UN system of environmental economic accounts (SEEA) which many governments are already doing.
Here you can see the components of what we consume energy, transport, shelter, goods and of course Food, which accounts for around 20% wherever we live in the world. Globally we see malnutrition and under-consumption of food, at the same time as obesity and overconsumption. At the retreat we held for governments on SCP in December food waste was mentioned as a big issue by a south east Asia diplomat. He is right! Globally a third of food is wasted, in developing countries because it cannot get to market on time and in rich countries largely because food is not valued enough and is thrown away. We propose a target and indicators for food waste. In the report we intentionally do not specify the numbers at this stage, this can be decided later. The 10YFP is an important existing mechanism to implement SCP, it could naturally include sustainable food production systems for example.
We have identified 28 possible targets. There will be other goal areas not covered here where similar targets and indicators for SCP could be identified, ideally drawing on existing data.
Please do read the report, we have some copies for delegates or you can download it. If you would like to discuss this further we’d be happy to meet with you. Also my colleague Freya Seath is speaking at a side event today at 1.15 in Room 7 in North Lawn building 10YFP and SDGs. Thank you