SDG 12
SDG 12
SDG 12
Sustainable consumption and production is about promoting resource and energy efficiency,
sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a
better quality of life for all. Its implementation helps to achieve overall development plans,
reduce future economic, environmental and social costs, strengthen economic
competitiveness and reduce poverty.
Since sustainable consumption and production aims at “doing more and better with less,” net
welfare gains from economic activities can increase by reducing resource use, degradation
and pollution along the whole life cycle, while increasing quality of life. There also needs to
be significant focus on operating on supply chain, involving everyone from producer to final
consumer. This includes educating consumers on sustainable consumption and lifestyles,
providing them with adequate information through standards and labels and engaging in
sustainable public procurement, among others.
Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, the equivalent of almost three
planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current
lifestyles.
With rises in the use of non-metallic minerals within infrastructure and construction,
there has been significant improvement in the material standard of living. The per
capita “material footprint” of developing countries increased from 5 metric tons in
2000 to 9 metric tons in 2017.
93% of the world’s 250 largest companies are now reporting on sustainability.
Water:
1. Less than 3 per cent of the world’s water is fresh (drinkable), of which 2.5 per cent is
frozen in the Antarctica, Arctic and glaciers. Humanity must therefore rely on 0.5 per
cent for all of man’s ecosystem’s and fresh water needs.
2. Humankind is polluting water in rivers and lakes faster than nature can recycle and
purify
3. More than 1 billion people still do not have access to fresh water.
5. Water is free from nature but the infrastructure needed to deliver it is expensive.
Energy:
If people worldwide switched to energy efficient lightbulbs, the world would save
US$120 billion annually.
Despite technological advances that have promoted energy efficiency gains, energy
use in OECD countries will continue to grow another 35 per cent by 2020.
Commercial and residential energy use is the second most rapidly growing area of
global energy use after transport.
In 2002 the motor vehicle stock in OECD countries was 550 million vehicles (75 per
cent of which were personal cars). A 32 per cent increase in vehicle ownership is
expected by 2020. At the same time, motor vehicle kilometers are projected to
increase by 40 per cent and global air travel is projected to triple in the same period.
The share of renewable energy in final energy consumption has reached 17.5% in
2015.
Food:
While substantial environmental impacts from food occur in the production phase
(agriculture, food processing), households influence these impacts through their
dietary choices and habits. This consequently affects the environment through food-
related energy consumption and waste generation.
Each year, an estimated 1/3 of all food produced – equivalent to 1.3 billion tons’
worth around $1 trillion – ends up rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers, or
spoiling due to poor transportation and harvesting practices
Land degradation, declining soil fertility, unsustainable water use, overfishing and
marine environment degradation are all lessening the ability of the natural resource
base to supply food.
The food sector accounts for around 30 per cent of the world’s total energy
consumption and accounts for around 22 per cent of total Greenhouse Gas emissions.
Targets: