Hello,
A couple of suggestions below on sustainable consumption policies which are difficult to separate from sustainable production (see Greenleaf book).
Heide Ciplin, MLS
Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment
publisher of the Gallon Environment Letter and
of Ecological Farming in Ontario for the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario
119 Concession 6 Rd Fisherville, ON N0A 1G0 CANADA
tel: 905 779-0003
web:
www.cialgroup.com/whatsnew.htm
1. UN DSD
The UN Department of Sustainable Development discusses a ten year framework programme for Sustainable Consumption and Production with the purpose to promote and facilitate international cooperation. It has a database on mechanisms and activitities with more a focus on organizations with further sources of information through their web sites. So it isn't laid out as a finished report on policies. The summary of initiatives and number for each topic listed on this web site
http://webapps01.un.org/dsd/scp/public/Welcome.do is:
Policy instruments
General policy instruments, analytical tools and policy analysis 55
Changing consumption patterns 46
Changing production patterns 48
Sectors and issues
Solid waste management 26
Chemical management and hazardous waste management (including mining sector) 22
Urban planning and transport 38
Construction 12
Energy efficiency and renewable energy 32
2. Gallon Environment Letter Vol. 11, No. 5, April 21, 2006 reviewed the following book:
****************************************************
GREENLEAF BOOK: GOVERNANCE OF INTEGRATED PRODUCT POLICY
Just as many more cars are shown at auto shows than ever reach the marketplace, so many more environmental concepts are introduced than are implemented. Implementation faces challenges such as pricing, infrastructure, regulations and long term commitment. A new book called Governance of Integrated Product Policy from Greenleaf Publishing provides an excellent overview of why transformation from idea to government policy for the marketplace is complicated and requires new governance models.
Traditional regulations control the process of specific sectors and try to reduce specific emissions at the end-of-pipe (or stack). However, increased consumption means that while individual factory emissions are controlled, total emissions increase beyond that which the ecosystem can absorb. Products use resources, emit pollution and form an increasing part of the waste stream. The book shows a graph of municipal waste in the US in 1906 and in 2001. In 1906, the total waste per person per year was 425 kg. ash, 82 kg. biodegradables and only 42 kg. products. In 2001, the total waste per person per year was 11 kg. ash, 173 kg. biodegradable and 546 kg. product.
Integrated Product Policy seeks to improve the environmental performance of products and services from design, manufacture, transport, use and disposal. Because products are part of a long chain from raw material provider, industry, consumers and government over many geographical areas and over time, the governance model has to include not only "the state" but other stakeholders and move from command and control to push -pull. Environmental problems have become more global and persistent: climate change, acid rain, loss of biodiversity, ozone depletion, soil erosion, threats to health, unsustainable use of resources and waste management issues.
Comprehensive product orientated environmental policy is seen as essential because so much of the environmental effect of products (80%) is determined at the product development stage, for example, electronics are made with toxic substances which persist in the environment when the product is disposed. For some products, environmental problems may not be identified for decades after the product is made e.g. commercial chillers with ozone depleting substances last 45-50 years. Services are included because the line between products and services is along a continuum e.g. lawn maintenance services use equipment such as mowers and leaf blowers, chemicals and vehicles.
This book is a great overview of the variety of product policy approaches such as the European Union IPP plan and the United Nations Environment Program's Sustainable Consumption and Production initiative and individual country programs. The Dutch government is credited with producing the first policy document called Policy Document on Products and the Environment in 1994. The Swiss are seen as doing the best job of integrating IPP into its sustainablity strategy which means that product policy is leading to changes in other policy areas as existing laws are changed.
The book is also invaluable for setting policy development within a larger framework and identifying policy mixes which haven't worked. Sustainable Development books can tend towards the messianic so GL appreciates this book for its reality check. Strong lobbies, opposition from industry and trade-off with political objectives interfere with developing a coherent policy. Sector specific interests tend to result in policies which fail to address the linkages between sectors such as transport, energy, construction and agriculture.
[snip]
****************************************************
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 12:54 PM
Subject: Sustainable Consumption
> Does anyone know of an existing or proposed indepth county by country
> research analysis of existing and possible future sustainable consumption
> focused policies and practices?
>
> Tony
>
>