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AGENDA 21, CHAPTER 4



CHANGING CONSUMPTION PATTERNS



NOTE:		This is a final, advanced version of a chapter of 
Agenda 21, as adopted by the Plenary in Rio de Janeiro, 
on June 14, 1992.  This document will be further edited, 
translated into the official languages, and published by 
the United Nations for the General Assembly this autumn.





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4.1.  This chapter contains the following programme areas:

	(a)	Focusing on unsustainable patterns of production and 
consumption;

	(b)	Developing national policies and strategies to encourage changes 
in unsustainable consumption patterns.

4.2.  Since the issue of changing consumption patterns is very broad, it is 
addressed in several parts of Agenda 21, notably those dealing with energy, 
transportation and wastes, and in the chapters on economic instruments and 
the transfer of technology.  The present chapter should also be read in 
conjunction with chapter 5 (Demographic dynamics and sustainability).


PROGRAMME AREAS

              A.  Focusing on unsustainable patterns of production
                  and consumption

Basis for action

4.3.  Poverty and environmental degradation are closely interrelated.  While 
poverty results in certain kinds of environmental stress, the major cause of 
the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable 
pattern of consumption and production, particularly in industrialized 
countries, which is a matter of grave concern, aggravating poverty and 
imbalances.

4.4.  Measures to be undertaken at the international level for the 
protection and enhancement of the environment must take fully into account 
the current imbalances in the global patterns of consumption and production.

4.5.  Special attention should be paid to the demand for natural resources 
generated by unsustainable consumption and to the efficient use of those 
resources consistent with the goal of minimizing depletion and reducing 
pollution.  Although consumption patterns are very high in certain parts of 
the world, the basic consumer needs of a large section of humanity are not 
being met.  This results in excessive demands and unsustainable lifestyles 
among the richer segments, which place immense stress on the environment. 
The poorer segments, meanwhile, are unable to meet food, health care, 
shelter and educational needs.  Changing consumption patterns will require a 
multipronged strategy focusing on demand, meeting the basic needs of the 
poor, and reducing wastage and the use of finite resources in the production 
process.

4.6.  Growing recognition of the importance of addressing consumption has 
also not yet been matched by an understanding of its implications.  Some 
economists are questioning traditional concepts of economic growth and 
underlining the importance of pursuing economic objectives that take account 
of the full value of natural resource capital.  More needs to be known about 
the role of consumption in relation to economic growth and population 
dynamics in order to formulate coherent international and national policies.

Objectives

4.7.  Action is needed to meet the following broad objectives:

	(a)	To promote patterns of consumption and production that reduce 
environmental stress and will meet the basic needs of humanity;

	(b)	To develop a better understanding of the role of consumption and 
how to bring about more sustainable consumption patterns.
Activities

(a)	Management-related activities

Adopting an international approach to achieving sustainable 
consumption patterns

4.8.  In principle, countries should be guided by the following basic 
objectives in their efforts to address consumption and lifestyles in the 
context of environment and development:

	(a)	All countries should strive to promote sustainable consumption 
patterns;

	(b)	Developed countries should take the lead in achieving 
sustainable consumption patterns;

	(c)	Developing countries should seek to achieve sustainable 
consumption patterns in their development process, guaranteeing the 
provision of basic needs for the poor, while avoiding those unsustainable 
patterns, particularly in industrialized countries, generally recognized as 
unduly hazardous to the environment, inefficient and wasteful, in their 
development processes.  This requires enhanced technological and other 
assistance from industrialized countries.

4.9.  In the follow-up of the implementation of Agenda 21 the review of 
progress made in achieving sustainable consumption patterns should be given 
high priority.

(b)	Data and information

Undertaking research on consumption

4.10.  In order to support this broad strategy, Governments, and/or private 
research and policy institutes, with the assistance of regional and 
international economic and environmental organizations, should make a 
concerted effort to:

	(a)	Expand or promote databases on production and consumption and 
develop methodologies for analysing them;

	(b)	Assess the relationship between production and consumption, 
environment, technological adaptation and innovation, economic growth and 
development, and demographic factors;

	(c)	Examine the impact of ongoing changes in the structure of modern 
industrial economies away from material-intensive economic growth;

	(d)	Consider how economies can grow and prosper while reducing the 
use of energy and materials and the production of harmful materials;

	(e)	Identify balanced patterns of consumption worldwide which the 
Earth can support in the long term.

Developing new concepts of sustainable economic growth and prosperity

4.11.  Consideration should also be given to the present concepts of 
economic growth and the need for new concepts of wealth and prosperity which 
allow higher standards of living through changed lifestyles and are less 
dependent on the Earth's finite resources and more in harmony with the 
Earth's carrying capacity.  This should be reflected in the evolution of new 
systems of national accounts and other indicators of sustainable 
development.

(c)	International cooperation and coordination

4.12.  While international review processes exist for examining economic, 
development and demographic factors, more attention needs to be paid to 
issues related to consumption and production patterns and sustainable 
lifestyles and environment.

4.13.  In the follow-up of the implementation of Agenda 21, reviewing the 
role and impact of unsustainable production and consumption patterns and 
lifestyles and their relation to sustainable development should be given 
high priority.

Financing and cost evaluation

4.14.  The Conference secretariat has estimated that implementation of this 
programme is not likely to require significant new financial resources.


          B.  Developing national policies and strategies to encourage
              changes in unsustainable consumption patterns

Basis for action

4.15.  Achieving the goals of environmental quality and sustainable 
development will require efficiency in production and changes in consumption 
patterns in order to emphasize optimization of resource use and minimization 
of waste.  In many instances, this will require reorientation of existing 
production and consumption patterns that have developed in industrial 
societies and are in turn emulated in much of the world.

4.16.  Progress can be made by strengthening positive trends and directions 
that are emerging, as part of a process aimed at achieving significant 
changes in the consumption patterns of industries, Governments, households 
and individuals.

Objectives

4.17.  In the years ahead, Governments, working with appropriate 
organizations, should strive to meet the following broad objectives:

	(a)	To promote efficiency in production processes and reduce 
wasteful consumption in the process of economic growth, taking into account 
the development needs of developing countries;

	(b)	To develop a domestic policy framework that will encourage a 
shift to more sustainable patterns of production and consumption;

	(c)	To reinforce both values that encourage sustainable production 
and consumption patterns and policies that encourage the transfer of 
environmentally sound technologies to developing countries.

Activities

(a)	Encouraging greater efficiency in the use of energy and resources

4.18.  Reducing the amount of energy and materials used per unit in the 
production of goods and services can contribute both to the alleviation of 
environmental stress and to greater economic and industrial productivity and 
competitiveness.  Governments, in cooperation with industry, should 
therefore intensify efforts to use energy and resources in an economically 
efficient and environmentally sound manner by:

	(a)	Encouraging the dissemination of existing environmentally sound 
technologies;

	(b)	Promoting research and development in environmentally sound 
technologies;

	(c)	Assisting developing countries to use these technologies 
efficiently and to develop technologies suited to their particular 
circumstances;

	(d)	Encouraging the environmentally sound use of new and renewable 
sources of energy;

	(e)	Encouraging the environmentally sound and sustainable use of 
renewable natural resources.

(b)	Minimizing the generation of wastes

4.19.  At the same time, society needs to develop effective ways of dealing 
with the problem of disposing of mounting levels of waste products and 
materials.  Governments, together with industry, households and the public, 
should make a concerted effort to reduce the generation of wastes and waste 
products by:

	(a)	Encouraging recycling in industrial processes and at the 
consumed level;

	(b)	Reducing wasteful packaging of products;

	(c)	Encouraging the introduction of more environmentally sound 
products.

(c)	Assisting individuals and households to make environmentally sound 
purchasing decisions

4.20.  The recent emergence in many countries of a more environmentally 
conscious consumer public, combined with increased interest on the part of 
some industries in providing environmentally sound consumer products, is a 
significant development that should be encouraged.  Governments and 
international organizations, together with the private sector, should 
develop criteria and methodologies for the assessment of environmental 
impacts and resource requirements throughout the full life cycle of products 
and processes.  Results of those assessments should be transformed into 
clear indicators in order to inform consumers and decision makers.

4.21.  Governments, in cooperation with industry and other relevant groups, 
should encourage expansion of environmental labelling and other 
environmentally related product information programmes designed to assist 
consumers to make informed choices.

4.22.  They should also encourage the emergence of an informed consumer 
public and assist individuals and households to make environmentally 
informed choices by:

	(a)	Providing information on the consequences of consumption choices 
and behaviour so as to encourage demand for environmentally sound products 
and use of products;

	(b)	Making consumers aware of the health and environmental impact of 
products, through such means as consumer legislation and environmental 
labelling;

	(c)	Encouraging specific consumer-oriented programmes, such as 
recycling and deposit/refund systems.

(d)	Exercising leadership through government purchasing

4.23.  Governments themselves also play a role in consumption, particularly 
in countries where the public sector plays a large role in the economy and 
can have a considerable influence on both corporate decisions and public 
perceptions.  They should therefore review the purchasing policies of their 
agencies and departments so that they may improve, where possible, the 
environmental content of government procurement policies, without prejudice 
to international trade principles.

(e)	Moving towards environmentally sound pricing

4.24.  Without the stimulus of prices and market signals that make clear to 
producers and consumers the environmental costs of the consumption of 
energy, materials and natural resources and the generation of wastes, 
significant changes in consumption and production patterns seem unlikely to 
occur in the near future.

4.25.  Some progress has begun in the use of appropriate economic 
instruments to influence consumer behaviour.  These instruments include 
environmental charges and taxes, deposit/refund systems, etc.  This process 
should be encouraged in the light of country-specific conditions.

(f)	Reinforcing values that support sustainable consumption

4.26.  Governments and private-sector organizations should promote more 
positive attitudes towards sustainable consumption through education, public 
awareness programmes and other means, such as positive advertising of 
products and services that utilize environmentally sound technologies or 
encourage sustainable production and consumption patterns.  In the review of 
the implementation of Agenda 21, an assessment of the progress achieved in 
developing these national policies and strategies should be given due 
consideration.

Means of implementation

4.27.  This programme is concerned primarily with changes in unsustainable 
patterns of consumption and production and values that encourage sustainable 
consumption patterns and lifestyles.  It requires the combined efforts of 
Governments, consumers and producers.  Particular attention should be paid 
to the significant role played by women and households as consumers and the 
potential impacts of their combined purchasing power on the economy.

A21: Changing Consumption Patterns 
(Ch.4), Advance CopyPage 1




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