EUROPE

News

2007

TIME FOR ACTION: EU SCP ACTION PLAN
Sept. 26-29, Ljubljana, Slovenia. As the public online consultations close giving input on the EU's regional action plan on SCP, an experts meeting convenes here to further develop ideas and strategies for making the plan a reality. The Slovenian Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning has set up a website on the Time for Action meeting, with links to discussion papers.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON SCP
Sept 23, The Hague. The EC's Public Consultation on the regional SCP and sustainable industry action plans closed today, after gathering feedback from a range of stakeholders ("the public, consumers, companies and organizations") on "barriers and possible outcomes for consideration." The main focus of this feedback was on a background document on the proposed action plans. These plans are among a number of the other proposed "building block" elements of the EU's broader sustainable development strategy (EU SDS). Report on outcomes of the consultation.

2006

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN THE EU
Dec. 2006, Bruges, Belgium. Is "sustainable growth" a noble aim or oxymoron? In this 2-day conference, Sustainable Resource Management is explored as "a tool for sustainable growth."

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF SCORE NETWORK
Nov 2006, Wuppertal, Germany. Back-to-back with the CSCP experts meeting, the Sustainable Consumption Research Exchange (SCORE) organized its official launch conference and highlighting its work to link scientists to the 10-year framework taskforces. Proceedings available at SCORE website.

INTERNATIONAL OPENING OF UNEP/WUPPERTAL CENTRE ON SCP
Nov 2006, Wuppertal, Germany. The collaboration between the Wuppertal Institute and UN Environment Programme will officially celebrate the opening of the Center on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP). This event is tied to the Experts Conference on the Marrakech Process, "Creating Solutions for Sustainable Consumption and Production," on Nov. 22-23. Background paper for the conference [pdf].

NORDIC MINISTERS LOOK TO IMPLEMENT SD STRATEGY
Sept 2006, Copenhagen. The Nordic Council of Ministers conference focused on new indicators in their revised SD strategy: for the social dimension (education) and the economic (sustainable production and consumption).

CAUTIOUS WELCOME BY EEB TO REVISED EU SD STRATEGY
June 2006, Brussels. Welcoming the EU's renewed Sustainable Development Strategy as "a clear framework" and "acceptable starting point" to address energy, transport and other issues, integrating environmental with social and economic priorities, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) noted several shortcomings. In particular, they noted the lack of "specific longer-term targets and schedules" (e.g., on reducing greenhouse emissions) while not promoting many new actions.

RENEWED EU SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY ADOPTED
June 2006, Brussels. Building on the first Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) adopted by the EU in Goteborg, the European Council has now adopted "an ambitious and comprehensive renewed SDS for an enlarged EU." Noting persisting unsustainable trends, the renewed SDS acknowledges that "the main challenge is to gradually change our current unsustainable consumption and production patterns and the non-integrated approach to policy making." That said, the Commission "will propose an EU Sustainable Consumption and Production Action Plan by 2007." For more on the EU SDS process, see European Sustainable Development Network.

PERSPECTIVES ON RADICAL CHANGES
April 2006, Copenhagen. This 2-day workshop represents the first phase in SCORE's 3-year study of governance approaches to consumption. Sustainable Consumption Research Exchange (SCORE) is a network funded by the European Commission to follow-up on the committment to a 10-year framework on sustainable consumption and production. The project works from the assumption that "sustainable consumption and production structures can only be realized if experts that understand business development, sustainable design, consumer behaviour and system innovation policy work together in shaping them." Proceedings [pdp], 577 pages.

I WILL IF YOU WILL
March 2006, London. The UK Sustainable Consumption Roundtable releases its report on its 18 month primary research "into a range of possible solutions and approaches to sustainable consumption" that will "take action that enables people to take up the more sustainable habits and choices that they want." The focus, the report states, needs to be on creating a framework for collective progress, rather than exhorting individuals to go against the grain." Report [pdf]

ENVIROMENT POLICY REVIEW 2005
Feb. 2006, Brussels. The recent European Commission Environmental Policy Review describes the most important issues for EU environment policy during 2005. While noting positive impacts from EU environment policy (start of emission trading, entry into force of Kyoto Protocol), the review also points out that "challenges faced by the EU are rooted in unsustainable consumption and production patterns that remain the main barrier to further improvement." In response, "the Commission will draw up an action plan to promote sustainable production and consumption."

HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Jan. 2006, Copenhagen. The European Environment Agency has released its report on European household consumption of which the authors observe, "in spite of the renewed policy-focus on SCP, growth of European household consumption is a major cause of increased environmental pressures." The report analyzes the environmental effects and sustainability of this increasing consumption.See Report [pdf].

2005

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Dec. 2005: Focusing on the theme of energy, the Second European Conference under the Marrakech Process on Sustainable Consumption and Production was held in Berlin. See Report [pdf]

THEMATIC STRATEGY ON THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Dec . 2005: The European Commission has proposed a strategy to govern the use of natural resources in the region and to reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with resource use. Titled The Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources, the strategy aims at "ensuring that the consumption of resources and their associated impacts do not exceed the carrying capacity of the environment and breaking the linkages between economic growth and resource use".

EUROPEAN SPAC STRATEGY?
Oct . 2005: In a presentation given during the 10th Annual Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and production, held at Antwerp Belgium, European Commission official Timo Makela mooted the idea of integrating several existing and planned EU initiatives under a sustainable consumption and production umbrella.

UPCOMING: ERSCP - 10
Aug. 2005: The 10th European Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production will be held in Antwerp, Belgium from October 5 - 8 2005.
Details

EUROPE 2005: THE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
Jun. 2005: The Global Footprint Network and WWF have released the first ecological footprint report focused on Europe. The report shows that the European Union uses 20 per cent of what the world's ecosystems provide in terms of fibres, food, energy, and waste absorption. Yet Europe is home to only 7 per cent of the world population. Europe's demand on the planet has risen by almost 70 per cent since 1961.
Details.

MOTIVATING SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION
Apr. 2005: UK's Sustainable Development Commission has published the report Motivating Sustainable Consumption: A review of behaviour of consumer behavior and environmental change. The report questions why people consume the way they do, and what factors drive and constrain their choices and actions. It also highlights the dilemmas and opportunities of policymakers engaged in addressing unsustainable consumption patterns.

STRATEGY ON CONSUMER & HEALTH POLICY
Mar. 2005: In his speech on sustainable consumption during the European Consumers Day, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection announced that the Commission would propose the creation of a EU wide strategy on health policy and consumer policy in order to fully exploit the synergies between the two policy areas and improve service to the citizen. More details are available here.

UK SD STRATEGY
Mar. 2005: The UK government has launched a new Sustainable Development Strategy titled "Securing the Future". The new strategy, which takes into account the developments since the 1999 strategy emphasizes "sustainable consumption and production" as a key priority area.

BEST PRACTICES FROM FINLAND
Jan. 2005: The Finnish Ministry of Environment has released a collection of best practices related to sustainable consumption and production in Finland. Titled "Making it happen - Best Practices from Finland", the examples are organized under 3 themes: sustainable development, water and sustainable consumption and production.

UK SDC - WORKSHOP REPORTS
Jan. 2005: The UK Sustainable Development Commission has released the reports for the following workshops on sustainable consumption: (a) Policies for Sustainable Consumption (b) Delivering Well Being. The workshops were held in September and October 2004 respectively in order to further the development of sustainable development strategy and policy.

2004

RUSSIA: CLEANER PRODUCTION &
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Dec. 2004:The Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian federation organized an international conference "Cleaner Production as a contribution to Sustainable Development" in Moscow on December 6 -9. The meeting report is available here.

EUROPEAN SCP MEETING - REPORT & DOCS
Dec. 2004: The report of the European Stakeholder meeting on sustainable consumption and production is available here . Other information about the meeting, including background documents is available here .

NGO STATEMENT TO SCP MEETING
Nov. 2004: Networks of civil society organizations around Europe got together to draft a position paper that was circulated during the European Stakeholder Meeting on Sustainable Consumption and Production. The statement is available here.

EUROPEAN SCP MEETING
Nov. 2004: The European Stakeholder Meeting on Sustainable Consumption and Production is being held in Ostend, Belgium on November 24-26.

SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION WORKSHOP IN BARCELONA
Sept. 2004: Barcelona Universal Forum of Cultures 2004, is hosting a workshop titled "Linking Sustainable Consumption and the Quality of Life" in Barcelona on September 22nd 2004. The aims of the workshop are to raise awareness and clarify the links between sustainable consumption and quality of life, and to derive, based on these links, practical recommendations for strategies for the promotion of sustainable consumption by government, business and civil society, including NGOs, consumer associations, youth associations and the media.
Read more

SCP MEETINGS IN EUROPE
Sept. 2004: UNEP has announced several upcoming meetings on sustainable consumption and production in Europe. UNEP's Sustainable Consumption Opportunities for Europe website announced that the wider European Multistakeholder Conference on SCP would be held in November 2004. The website also announces that a workshop on sustainable consumption opportunities will be held in Moscow in December 2004.
Read more .

GRANTS FOR SPAC
Aug 2004: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK (DEFRA) is inviting applications from voluntary sector groups throughout England for grants from the Environment Action Fund to support their work on Sustainable Consumption and Production over the three years from 2005-08. Details are available here .

ERSCP - CONCLUSIONS

July 2004: The conclusions of the 9th European Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (ERSCP 2004) are now available at the conference website.

BALTIC STATES AND SPAC

June 2004:The Baltic sub-regional multistakeholder dialogue on sustainable consumption and production was organized in Vilnius, Lithuania on June 17 - 18 2004.

More details are available here.

Documents are available here.

EU: SPEAKING POINTS ON SPAC AT THE UNEP GMEF

June 2004: The Irish Presidency of the European Union has released its Speaking Points on Sustainable Consumption and Production made at the 8th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council. The speaking points reiterate that the EU will take the lead on the issue of unsustainable production and consumption patterns.

Read the speaking points.

EUROPEAN ROUNDTABLE ON SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION

May 2004: Over 300 persons participated in the 9th European Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (formerly ERCP), held in Bilbao, Spain between 12th and 14th May 2004. The conclusions are available at the conference website .

THE FUTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION IN EUROPE

Apr. 2004: Consumption in Europe continues to rise and households account for a growing share of resource use and environmental burden. These are some of the conclusions of the study " Consumption and the Environment in Europe: Trends and Futures " done on behalf of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.mst.dk/homepage/ ) by Laurie Michaelis, University of Oxford and Sylvia Lorek, SERI (www.seri.at/consumption ). The report identifies some of the implications for possible action that could be taken by governments, business and civil society to prepare for a future transition to more sustainable patterns of consumption.

EU STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION

Mar. 2004: Sustainable consumption and production and the development of the 10 year framework are some of the key priorities of the European Union in the follow up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Therefore, the EU has developed "Sustainable consumption and production: An inventory of relevant policies, activities and instruments at the European Community level" to provide an overall view of overall view of the EU's current activities and best practices on the issue. On March 22nd 2003, the EU will be conducting a stakeholder consultation on the inventory.

GERMAN DIALOGUE ON SPAC

Feb. 2004: Germany is restarting the dialogue on sustainable production and consumption to face the challenge of fleshing out the 10 year framework of programmes.To this end, the German government hosted a conference titled "Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns - National Dialogue on the Follow-up of the World Summit for Sustainable Development" in Berlin to develop "perspectives and new impetus for the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns".

Read conference paper

SPAC ROUNDTABLE IN BILBAO

The Basque Environmental management Authority will be hosting 9th European Roundtable on Sustainable Production and Consumption in Bilbao, Basque Country on 12th - 14th May 2004. Formerly known as the European Roundtable on Cleaner Production, the ERSCP this year will pay special attention to the theme of sustainable consumption - inspired by the international framework of programmes on sustainable production and consumption. The roundtable is currently calling for abstracts on themes, to be submitted by 28th November 2004.

UK'S WORKPLAN ON SPAC

The UK government has recently released its plan for sustainable production and consumption titled "Changing Patterns: The UK Government Framework on Sustainable Production and Consumption" as a part of its commitments under the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. The plan has the following objectives:

Breaking the link between economic growth and environmental pollution.
Improving resource efficiency.
Focusing on areas where environmental damage is greatest.
Examining the whole life-cycle of a product, through design, production, use and disposal, to help reduce its effect on the environment.
Enabling consumers to receive more information on products and services.
Government utilizing a range of tools, including taxes, voluntary agreements, subsidies, regulation and information campaigns, to stimulate innovation and investment to provide cleaner technology.

UK is the first government to come out with a strategy specifically focused on sustainable production and consumption.

2003

CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

The 8th international conference of the Center for Sustainable Design will take place in Stockholm, Sweden between October 27 - 28 2003. The Conference, titled Sustainable Innovation 03, "will explore the concept of sustainable innovation from a product, service and product-service-systems viewpoint by providing a platform for discussion of best practice and new ideas" and will " respond to the call made at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development for programmes that will accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production."

BELGIUM: CALL FOR SPAC RESEARCH PROPOSALS

The Belgian Government called for research proposals on sustainable production and consumption as a part of the research for the second multiannual Scientific Research Plan for a Sustainable Development Policy (SPSD II). The call, which was open to Belgian universities, public scientific institutions and non-profit research centers, requested proposals both on general SPAC issues as well as on specific topics concerning energy, transport and agri-food.

SPAC IN THE ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPE MEETINGS

The Kyiv Ministerial Declaration encourages "national efforts to promote sustainable production and consumption as well as corporate environmental and social responsibility and accountability" (Para. 27) Para. 28 of the Declaration focuses on the 10-year framework of programmes in support of sustainable production and consumption and lists out program elements that must be considered in the same. It also calls for adoption of public procurement policies at all levels. Para. 29 encourages improvements in corporate practices. The declaration also deals with public participation (Section F), transboundary air pollution (Section G), energy (Section I), water (Section J), transport (Section K) and chemicals (Section L) among other issues. For more details, see the ICSPAC home page

Integrative Strategies Forum organized a workshop titled Towards Production and Consumption in the ECE region. ( Event Summary)

REGIONAL NETWORKING AROUND SPAC

ANPED's SPAC Working Group and ECO-Forum's SPAC Issue Group are some of the regional collaborations around sustainable production and consumption.

SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION.NET

Sustainable Consumption.Net (www.sustainable-consumption.net) has been created with the aim of providing and disseminating knowledge necessary to realize sustainable consumption patterns to citizens and policy makers. The network has been designed to develop the necessary empirical information, policy analysis, tools, and implementation experience in order to scientifically support the consumption part of the EU's proposed 10-year work programme.

For more information on the network, contact sylvia.lorek@sustainable-consumption.net