Goal 12: Ensure sustainable patterns of production and consumption
Sustainable consumption and production means promoting resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, as well as ensuring access to basic services, decent and environmentally friendly jobs and a better quality of life for everyone. Its implementation contributes to the realization of overall development plans, the reduction of future economic, environmental and social costs, the improvement of economic competitiveness and the reduction of poverty.
Sustainable consumption and production aim to "do more and better with less", increasing the benefits in terms of well-being derived from economic activities, through the reduction of the use of resources, degradation and pollution in the entire production cycle thus improving the quality of life. This involves different stakeholders, including businesses, consumers, policy makers, researchers, scientists, retailers, media and development agencies.
This requires a systematic and cooperative approach between subjects active in the supply chains, from the producer to the consumer. This also requires involving consumers in initiatives to raise awareness of sustainable consumption and lifestyles, providing them with adequate information on standards and labels, and involving them, among other things, in sustainable public procurement.
Facts and figures
- Every year, about a third of the food produced, corresponding to 1.3 billion tons, worth about a trillion dollars, ends up in the trash of consumers and traders, or goes bad due to transportation systems or inadequate agricultural practices
- If the world's population used energy-saving light bulbs, they would save 120 billion dollars a year
- If the world's population reaches 9.6 billion a year by 2050, it would take three planets to meet the demand for natural resources needed to support current lifestyles.
1. Water
- Less than 3 percent of the world's water is drinkable, of which 2.5% is frozen in Antarctica, the Arctic and in glaciers. Humanity must therefore rely on 0.5 percent to meet the drinking water needs of man and the ecosystem
- Humans are polluting the world's water faster than the natural ability to regenerate and purify water in rivers and lakes
- More than a billion people still lack access to clean water
- Excessive water use contributes to global water stress
- Water is a free commodity, but the infrastructure needed to transport it is expensive.
2. Energy
- Despite technological advances that have promoted increased energy efficiency, energy use in OECD countries will continue to grow by another 35% by 2020. Commercial and residential energy use is the second largest sector after the transport due to growth in energy use
- In 2002, the automotive stock in OECD countries was 550 million vehicles (of which 75% were personal cars). By 2020, a 32% increase in vehicle ownership is expected. Over the same period, a 40% increase in vehicle kilometers is expected, along with a tripling of global air traffic
- Households consume 29% of global energy, contributing 21% of CO2 emissions
- In 2013, one fifth of the world's total energy consumption came from renewable sources.
3. Food
- While a significant environmental impact in the food sector occurs starting from the production phases (agriculture and agri-food sector), families influence this impact through food choices and habits. This, in turn, impacts the environment through the energy consumed for food production and waste generation
- 1.3 billion tons of food goes to waste every year, while nearly 1 billion people suffer from malnutrition and another billion go hungry
- Excessive food consumption has harmful effects on our health and the environment
- 2 billion people in the world are overweight or obese
- Soil degradation phenomena, land drying, unsustainable use of water, excessive fishing and marine environment degradation reduce the capacity of natural resources to provide for food production
- The food sector accounts for 30% of total energy consumption, and is responsible for 22% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Achievements
12.1 Implement the Ten-Year Framework of Programs for Sustainable Consumption and Production, involving all countries, with developed countries leading, but also bearing in mind the development and capacities of developing countries
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.3 By 2030, halve global food waste per capita at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their releases to air, water and soil to minimize their negative impact on human health and the environment
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.6 Encourage businesses, especially large multinational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into their annual reporting
12.7 Promote sustainable public procurement practices, in accordance with national policies and priorities
12.8 By 2030, ensure that all people, everywhere, have relevant information and awareness of sustainable development and a way of life in harmony with nature
12.a Support developing countries in strengthening their scientific and technological capacities, to achieve more sustainable consumption and production models
12.b Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism, which creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
12.c Rationalize inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wastefulness by eliminating market distortions in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation systems and phasing out harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impact , taking into consideration the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing possible negative effects on their development, so as to protect the poorest and most affected communities.
