Vital GEO Graphics

governments, development agencies, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders. The Commission on Sustainable Development will review the theme of SCP during its 2010–2011 two-year cycle. Activities under the Marrakech Process are undertaken through voluntary task forces led by governments, with the participation of experts from de- veloping and developed countries. Through a Cooperation Dialogue with other partners, they commit themselves to carrying out a set of concrete activities at national or regional level that promote a shift to SCP patterns. The task forces are carrying out activities such as: • an eco-labelling project in Africa; • national action plans on SCP; • developing tools and supporting capacity building to promote sustainable public procurement; • projects and networks on product policy to encourage more innova- tion on product eco-design and performance; • projects on sustainable buildings focusing on energy efficiency; • the promotion of sustainable lifestyles and education through demon- stration projects; and • developing policy tools and strategies for sustainable tourism. Another important mechanism for implementing SCP is collaboration with development agencies and regional banks. The Cooperation Dialogue aims to highlight the contribution of SCP policies and tools to poverty reduction and sustainable development, including the MDGs, and better integration of SCP objectives in development plans. A key priority is to contribute to poverty reduction through the promotion of sustainable consumption and production, which is especially relevant for developing countries. Recognition of the need for integration of environ- mental concerns into public and private social and economic sector institutions has increased tremen- dously over the last decade at both national and international levels. A key approach to integration of environment into development is achieving more sustainable patterns of consumption and production (SCP), as facilitated through the Marrakech process on sustainable consumption and production, which was established after the 2002 Johannesburg sum- mit. The European Union has made important progress in decoupling resource use from economic growth. However, absolute reduction in resource use has not been achieved. Improvements have also been made in eco-efficiency but attempts to change consumption patterns have had only limited suc- cess. Household consumption expenditure is steadily increasing throughout Europe. Action

where the resources are extracted or the waste is dumped. For example, the declining mineral extrac- tion in some developed regions is often associated with the increasing import of minerals. The emissions and land degradation associated with extraction and processing of the materials are increasing in developing countries, while the high-value end prod- ucts are consumed in industrialized countries.

Sustainable consumption and production: the Marrakech Process

Sustainable consumption involves the choices consumers make, and the design, development and use of products and services that are safe, and energy and resource-efficient. It considers the full lifecycle impacts, including the recycling of waste and use of recycled products. It is the responsibility of all members of society, and includes informed consumers, government, business, labour, consumer and environmental organiza- tions. Instruments to promote sustainable consumption include sustainable or green procurement, economic and fiscal instruments to internalize environmental costs, and use of environmentally sound products, services and technologies. Sustainable and cleaner production is “the continuous application of an integrated preventive environmental strategy to processes, products, and services to increase overall efficiency, and reduce risks to humans and the environment. Cleaner production can be applied to the processes used in any industry, to products themselves and to various services provided in society.” This broad term encompasses such concepts as eco-efficiency, waste minimization, pollution prevention, green productivity and industrial ecology. Cleaner production is not anti-economic growth, but is pro- ecologically sustainable growth. It is also a “win-win” strategy that aims to protect the environment, the consumer and the worker while improving industrial efficiency, profitability and competitiveness. Central to such efforts is the global, multistakeholder Marrakech Process, which supports regional and national initiatives to promote the shift towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns. The proc- ess responds to the call of the WSSD Johannesburg Plan of Implementation to develop a 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consump- tion and Production (10YFP). UNEP and UNDESA are the leading agencies of this global process, with the active participation of national

Sources: UNEP 2006f, UNEP 2007b, UNEP 2007c

62 V I TAL GEO GRAPH I CS