Chapter 1 - Preamble

Section 1 - Social & Economic Dimensions
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8

Section 2 - Conservation and Management of Resources

Section 3 - Strengthening the Role of Major Groups

Section 4 - Means of Implementation

Chapter 4: Changing Consumption Patterns

The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable pattern of consumption and production, particularly in the industrialized countries.

Excessive demands and unsustainable lifestyles among the richer segments of humanity place immense stress on the environment. The poorer segments, meanwhile, are unable to meet food, health-care, shelter and educational needs. This pattern, which aggravates poverty in the world, is a matter of grave concern. It is essential to have sustainable consumption patterns in order to reach the goals of Agenda 21.

We must examine the demand for natural resources generated by unsustainable consumption, and seek ways of using resources that minimize depletion and reduce pollution.

We must consider 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. Some economists are questioning traditional concepts of economic growth. They underline the importance of pursuing economic objectives that take account of the full value of natural resource capital. This may require the development of new indicators that include sustainability in the measurements of the economic well-being of nations.

Achieving sustainable development will require efficiency in production and changes in consumption patterns. 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.

All countries should strive to promote sustainable consumption patterns, but developed countries should take the lead in achieving this goal.

Developing countries should try to establish sustainable consumption patterns as they build their economies. They need to guarantee the provision of basic needs for the poor, while avoiding unsustainable patterns which are generally recognized as unduly hazardous to the environment, inefficient and wasteful. Such development will require technological and other assistance from industrialized countries.

In order to develop sustainably, countries need to:

Find ways of making economies grow and prosper while reducing the use of energy and materials and the production of waste.

Identify balanced patterns of consumption worldwide, which the Earth can support in the long term.

Governments should strive to:

Promote efficient production and reduce wasteful consumption.

Develop policies that encourage a shift to sustainable patterns of production and consumption.

Encourage the transfer to environmentally sound technologies to developing countries.

Governments and industries need to cooperate in the development of environmentally sound and sustainable ways of using resources and of producing and using energy. Reducing the amount of materials and energy used to produce goods and services reduces environmental stress and increases economic productivity and competitiveness.

Society needs to cope with mounting levels of waste products by encouraging recycling, reducing wasteful packaging and encouraging the introduction of more environmentally sound products. In many countries, a more environment-conscious consumer public has emerged, combined with increased interest by some industries in providing environmentally sound consumer products.

Governments, in cooperating with industry and other groups and through such means as consumer legislation, should develop or expand environmental labeling and other information that informs people of the health and environmental impact of products.

Governments themselves are often big consumers, and they should review their purchasing policies to improve the environmental content, where possible.

Significant changes in consumption and production patterns seem unlikely to occur soon without the stimulus of prices and market signals that make clear the environmental costs of the consumption of energy, materials and natural resources and the generation of wastes. The use of such market signals, such as environmental charges and taxes and deposit and refund systems, should be encouraged.

It is important that individuals take responsibility for consuming goods and services in a sustainable manner. Government and business can promote sustainable consumption through education, public awareness programmes and the positive advertising of products and services that encourage sustainability.

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