Sustainable Consumption

The mission of the United Nations Environmental Programme is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

Sustainable Consumption works toward focusing on understanding the forces that drive consumption patterns around the world and how to translate those findings into solid activities for business in a nation. From early on, the UNEP has worked toward creating cleaner, safer production and consumption patterns by increasing worldwide agreement on a ‘Cleaner Production vision’. The committee works on implementing policies and strategies, environmental management systems, environmentally sound technologies, and working toward the establishment of National Cleaner Production Centers. The UNEP constantly supports organizations dedicated to promoting Cleaner Production activities and they help enhance faculties through training and education. The overall goal is to encourage projects and provide technical assistance.

The cleaner production approach began in response to the UNEP’s Governing Council Decision in 1989. There has been much advancement in this area over the past decades through econ-efficiency, waste minimization, pollution prevention, and green productivity. The goal of a nation is to produce minimal impact when implementing a new technology. Countries should know their economic limit. The issue here is how can we implement cleaner production without preventing growth?

One way is by promoting ecodesign and product service systems as options for implementing more sustainable consumption and production patterns. Ecodesign is used to limit the amount of material (including toxic materials) used in a project. Product service system (PSS) is a new concept for business to improve their sustainability performance. The approach deals with the needs of consumers that already have a sound product. After efforts such as cleaning up production processes and re-designing products has taken place, the new approach invites business to shift its focus from selling products to selling the utility. A mix of products and services can thereby fulfill the same client demands with less environmental and social impacts.

Along with the issue of advancement without economic damage, is the issue of constantly energy conservation due to the constantly rising oil prices. Due to conflict in the Middle East, much of the world’s oil prices have skyrocketed. For example, in mid July, Israeli bombers hit the Jiyyeh power station in Lebanon. The UNEP has been dealing with the oil spill which developed off the coast of Lebanon after. The slick covers over 150 kilometers of the coastline along Lebanon's Mediterranean shore, and has reached Syria. It has been described by environmentalists as the worst environmental disaster in Lebanon's history. Such developments are reason enough to stress energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.

It is not to say that countries are not working toward energy solutions for sustainable development. In June 2006, the UNEP and the International Energy Agency organized a summit in order to discuss fuel economy opportunities through better car components. In February 2005, China enacted the Renewable Energy Law, which authorized authorities to set favorable prices for the purchase of surplus on-grid PV-generated electricity, and provided other financial incentives for the development of renewable energy projects. In addition, the State Council of China and the Ministry of Construction encouraged the development and use of solar energy in both urban and rural areas. And in May 2007, the Riso International Energy Conference will take place in Denmark working toward lower-level stabilization of Carbon dioxide, distribution of energy production technologies such as fuel cells, hydrogen, bio-energy and wind energy, centralizing energy technologies such as clean coal technologies, nuclear, and fusion, and dealing with the different regions of the world. But there is still much work to be done.

UNEP continues to lower pollution in the world and continues to better the environment. However, with new global problems, we must continue the work of the UNEP.

Poverty and the Environment

            UNEP stresses the importance of environment in order to protect the interests of those in the future. However, improving environment goes hand in hand with improving the well being of individuals and reducing poverty today. Steps have to be taken to better environmental standards and alleviate poverty in the world, especially those in developing nations.

            One of the most basic problems is the pollution of the environment. Individuals living in poverty have limited resources. They depend on the environment for their basic needs, such as water, food, and shelter. They need adequate water supply for the use as drinking water. For those whose environment acts as their shelter, clean air is a necessity. Energy connection and distribution is also a challenge. Energy is a major necessity for heating and cooking. The issue remains how to supply those who need energy but live in unfitting areas. Living in a better environment aids in the nourishment of individuals and in the avoidance of diseases. Along with constant environmental problems, there remains the fear of natural disaster. For those who do not have much protection from their surroundings, the fear of mudslides, tropical storms, and other natural disasters constantly arouses fear. The question remains how to help those by improving the environment that surrounds them.

            Along with the conditions of the environment, cultural and economical issues are also relevant. Agriculture determined by the climate of the region acts as nourishment and as food for impoverished areas. These resources nourish the people.  The management of the region’s natural resources is also an issue. How can natural resources be used to help the people of that area? While dealing with poverty and the environment, nations cannot infringe upon the culture and traditions of the regions, whether it is medical, spiritual, or traditional practices. The problem remains to how the UNEP can make ongoing management decisions that respect natural resources and enable the achievement of an ongoing income for the region. The environment plays a greater role in reducing poverty then it appears.  Steps have to be taken to better environmental standards and alleviate poverty in the world today. 

            In June 2006, during the UNEP’s Second Annual Poverty and Environment Unit held in Nairobi, representatives tackled the issues listed above. The importance of non-governmental organizations (NGOS) such as the Capability and Sustainability Centre (CSC) from the University of Cambridge were emphasized for capacity building on Poverty and Environment indicators.  SAfMA (Southern African Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) was also asked to provide training on integrated ecosystem assessment to many of the pilot countries in the past. These were a just a few ways the UNEP is working toward bettering economy in order to help those facing poverty. Other projects include the UNEP, with help from donations from Denmark and Belgium, working closely with local governments to strengthen management of environmental capacities and alleviate poverty. Those benefiting from this project are the East Africans like Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Other projects include the purification of air and water and the renewal of soil and soil fertility. But more must be done with the environment in order to reduce poverty.