Overview of the SCP initiatives in LAC and at international level 24 February 2010
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Definition Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) is about "the use of services and related products, which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as the emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardize the needs of further generations" (Oslo symposium, 1994).
International decisions • Countries committed in the Rio Summit in 1992 and in the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (2002) to develop a 10 Years Framework of Programme (10YFP) to support national and regional projects in fostering the change towards sustainable production and consumption patterns, with the aim of fostering social and economic development within the limits of carrying capacity of ecosystems. • UNEP and UN DESA are the leading agencies of the global process (Marrakech Process), with an active participation of national governments, development agencies, business and industry, civil society and other stakeholders. • Discussions undertaken at regional level
Marrakech Process • The contributions to the Marrakech Process will have to be presented and reviewed during the Commission of Sustainable Development (CSD). • The CSD 18-19 will review the proposal of 10YFP during the biennium 2010 (revision) and 2011 (decision). • On the basis of the regional and international consultations of the Marrakech Process, following versions of the 10YFP are being developed. Currently available third version: http://www.unep.fr/scp/marrakech/
Political response: Latin America and Caribbean • The Forum of Ministers of Environment in Latin America and the Caribbean was established in 2003 the Council of Government Experts on SCP with the purpose of: • Ensuring specific follow-up to the issue with the national environmental bodies • Provide advice to the Forum of Environmental Ministers • Extend the participation to the private sector, academia, NGOs and other organizations of the civil society
Coordination with other regional / international initiatives • Given the multidisciplinary nature of the SCP concept and of the 10YFP, these could lend a supportive role to other United Nations objectives, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). • The 10YFP can also be seen as an important implementation tool to help execute public policies, environmental management practices, investments, technologies and capacity building activities needed to build a "green economy”.
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Objectives of the Council of Experts • Assist the Forum and the Governments of the region in the implementation of III Chap. JOIP • Facilitate the exchange of SCP-related information and experience • Analyze SCP-related challenges and obstacles that the region is facing • Formulate regional SCP proposals • Identify international sources of fund and regional cooperation mechanisms
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Composition of the Council • National SCP focal points, defined in each country within the framework of the national environmental authority • Executive Committee (2009 – 2011): – – – – –
Mesoamerican sub-region: Guatemala Caribbean sub-region: Barbados Andean sub-region: Colombia South Cone sub-region: Brazil (interim repr.) Secretariat: UNEP
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Status assessment in LAC - policies • 14 out of 20 countries have pointed out that they have mechanisms in place to speed up the change towards sustainable consumption and production; they have identified such mechanisms as policy (35%), programme (20%), project (10%) and plan (5%). • These mechanisms require the integration of the different national policies, addressing: social, economic, productive, transport, energy sectors, among others.
Status assessment in LAC - policies • More than 40% of the countries with SCP promotion mechanisms have integrated them into the National Development Plans; while another 40% have involved in their design and/or implementation other institutions from the public sector, such as those related to the economy, transport areas, among others. • No more than 14% have kept SCP mechanisms or instruments only under the sphere of the environmental authorities.
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Status assessment in LAC - policies • Despite the progress made in the definition and officialization of these mechanisms, progress in terms of the implementation of specific actions with measurable outcomes is not so promising. More than 80% declare not having achieved significant progress.
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Status assessment in LAC – Sectors • Considering environmental management and SCP, the sectors identified as priorities at regional level, are listed below in order of priority: 1. Food production and processing (agriculture and industry) 2. Construction and tourism sector 3. Energy, water resources, textile, primary forestry sector, African palm biodiesel producers, SMEs providers of large companies and public institutions
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Status assessment in LAC - SMEs • The most widely used tool for SCP dissemination is training. This is coupled with: awards, and participation in projects of international cooperation. There is a clear need to ensure the existence of more effective financial schemes or incentives. • 80% of the countries indicate that the mechanism for the provision of technical assistance to SMEs is Cleaner Production. • The recognitions for the implementation of CP are: awards, supports to the implementation of environmental management systems (e.g. tax discounting or subsidies), nonrefundable contributions through ad-hoc credit lines.
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Status assessment in LAC - SPP • Half of the countries state that they are implementing Sustainable Public Procurement. • However, except from Mexico that started in 1999 and Brazil in 2006, the rest of the countries are just in the initial stages regarding the definition of their programmes. • With the support of the Task Force on Sustainable Procurement, 50 people from 17 countries of the region have been recently trained for the application of sustainable procurement and the implementation of pilot projects is being initiated in Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile and Uruguay.
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Conclusions status assessment I • The countries have initiated the definition and formalization of the political mechanisms to speed up SCP in the region. The implementation of these mechanisms is embryonic, as many of the cases are still under approval process. • However, it is very positive that in those mechanisms it has been taken into account the involvement of different sectors of society and institutions of the public sector, both in the process of preparation as in the implementation.
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Conclusions status assessment II • Cleaner Production: the countries have been implementing technical assistance programs, aimed at specific sectors, where successful experiences have been generated. • On the other hand, as regards Sustainable Consumption, the efforts are still incipient. • A very active movement of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be noticed in the region. This movement includes issues related to sustainability and the countries should take advantage as part of their SCP strategies.
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Conclusions status assessment III • Courses, guides and other dissemination/training tools on SCP-related issues have been developed in the different countries of the region. It is necessary to ensure the integration of all these tools in an open and user-friendly database . • The legal framework and the enforcement capacity still show weaknesses in a number of countries. • The instruments aimed at the promotion or creation of SCP markets have hardly been used in the region.
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Conclusions status assessment IV • The sub-regions show different specializations and targets in production and consumption. • Lack of resources and skills of the micro, small and medium sized enterprises concerning environmental management in general, including the compliance with environmental regulations and occupational health and safety. The enormous weight this category of companies have in the region should be considered when implementing SCP programmes.
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Conclusions status assessment V • Need for additional financial support for SMEs to implement the necessary improvements in their production process. • Social exclusion and poverty put at risk the successful implementation of sustainable consumption programmes. Need to ensure the supply of sustainable products at favorable prices, particularly in the case of food (that cover around 70% of the regional consumption).
Recommendations of the region • To ratify and support the implementation of priority areas as a contribution from the region to the 10 Year Framework Programme, concentrating efforts on the following topics: – National Policies and Strategies on Sustainable Consumption and Production; – Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; – Sustainable public procurement; – Sustainable Lifestyles.
National Policies and Strategies on Sustainable Consumption and Production • Integrate SCP within national development strategies, inclusive of development policies, regulations, and programmes • Strengthen the information, education and training processes on SCP aimed at the population. • Quantify costs and benefits associated with the implementation of SCP in the region, at the national and sub-regional levels, with the objective of identifying the impact on employment, poverty reduction and other social aspects within priority sectors. • Assign priority and call for greater corporate social and environmental responsibility among sectors with large consumption and production patterns that have high environmental and social impacts.
Small and medium enterprises • Give priority to sectors at the sub-regional level that provide environmental services or, that protect ecosystems. • Create or strengthen economic mechanisms and instruments that support the sustainability of the productive sectors. • Define specific SCP indicators within the framework of the Initiative of Latin America and the Caribbean (Iniciativa Lationamericana y Caribeña, ILAC)
Small and medium enterprises • Give priority to sectors at the sub-regional level that provide environmental services or, that protect ecosystems. • Create or strengthen economic mechanisms and instruments that support the sustainability of the productive sectors. • Define specific SCP indicators within the framework of the Initiative of Latin America and the Caribbean (Iniciativa Lationamericana y Caribeña, ILAC)
Sustainable Public Procurement • Establish high level political leadership for SPP and engage lead organizations responsible national public procurement in SPP programmes; • Adopt a practical long-term strategy for the transition to SPP and identify priority goods and services to commence SPP programmes based on nationally agreed environmental and social criteria; • Ensure the inclusion and sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises in SPP programmes by establishing specific policy measures and instruments; • Create a multi-stakeholder mechanism to monitor and evaluate national SPP programmes.
Sustainable lifestyles I • Apply new or where necessary adjust existing policies promoting the supply of sustainable goods and services at affordable prices to the public; • Broaden public participation in the development and implementation of actions to promote sustainable lifestyles; • Design targeted communication strategies and messages aimed at consumers; • Integrate education for sustainable consumption in formal and informal educational programmes;
Sustainable lifestyles I • Conduct behavioral studies and assessments in order to understand the motivators for the LAC region’s consumption pattern • Lobby transnational corporations (TNCs) and their associations so that they may apply in the region the quality and environmental management standards they apply in their countries of origin or in countries with more stringent standards.
Additional recommendations • Strengthen the Information Network on Sustainable Consumption and Production (www.redpycs.net) • Promote the strengthening of the institutional areas responsible for SCP in each country and continue the development of the enabling environment for the active participation of such institutions in subregional and regional SCP activities.
The way forward to CSD 18 - 19 • Inclusion of the regional priorities identified by the Council of Experts in the Regional Implementation Meeting, in preparation of the input to CSD 18 (meeting in Guatemala in Nov. 2009) • Support in the formulation of the documents for the discussion at CSD 18: background document, RIM report, outcome report http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/csd/csd_csd18_rims.shtml
MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION, other SUPPORT
PROGRAMMES National Policies and Strategies on Sustainable Consumption and Production
POLICY AND MEASURES 1.
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Integrate SCP within national development strategies, inclusive of development policies, regulations, and programmes Strengthen the information, education and training processes on SCP aimed at the population Quantify SCP costs and benefits associated with the implementation of SCP in the region, at the national and sub-regional levels. Promote corporate social and environmental responsibility and include the concept of extended producer responsibility and life cycle analysis in companies from industrial sectors with significant consumption and production levels that have high environmental and social impacts.
LEAD ACTORS
MECHANISMS
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Strengthening institutional capacities of CPS areas in each country
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Partnerships between Ministries Economy / Finance and Environment
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Coordination and articulation with other existing forums related to environment, economy, development, social and financial issues.
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National governments, Marrakech Process mechanisms and tools Regional Council of Government experts on SCP, ECLAC UNEP,
SUCCESS MEASURES
Number of countries with national/regional SCP plans
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Number of countries with SCP mainstreamed in national / sub regional development plans Identification of cost, benefits and opportunities of SCP for the region Number of countries which apply life cycle approach and extended producer responsibility
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Coordination with sub regional policy and economic integration systems
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Include CPS issues in studies / reports on the economy and development
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Definition of specific indicators measuring regional progress in CPS
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Active participation of the representatives of the Regional Council of Government experts in the International Advisory Panel.
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Strengthening regional capacities through UNEP methodologies (Planning for Change, CPS indicators, ...)
Inclusion of the Latin American and Caribbean countries within the SCP Government Framework, including the Marrakech Task Forces.
UNDP Sub-regional organizations
The way forward to CSD 18 - 19 • Advisory Committee of the International Marrakech Process: 27 February 2010 in Bali (Indonesia). The region is being represented by the Government of Guatemala • Forum of LAC Ministers of Environment: 26 – 30 April 2010 in Panama • CSD 18: 3 – 14 May 2010 in New York • International meeting of the Marrakech Process: October 2010 (Preparation of 10YFP for CSD 19) in China
Contact Elisa Tonda UNEP/ROLAC Regional Officer – Resource Efficiency Sustainable Consumption and Production E-mail elisa.tonda@unep.org Reference websites: www.pnuma.org – www.unep.org www.redpycs.net