Unsustainable consumption and production a big mouthful – also for the climate

EESC hearing on Sustainable Consumption and Production, 10 December 2008

1 - [Lars Fogh Mortensen]

Unsustainable consumption and productiona big mouthful – also for the climate

Presentation by Lars Fogh MortensenHead of Group, Sustainable Consumption &

ProductionEuropean Environment Agency

European Economic and Social CommitteePublic Hearing, Sustainability Consumption and Production, Brussels, 10 December 2008



Not rocket science...Achieving sustainable consumption and production is not rocket science...



It is much more complicated than that!



1. Environmental and climate pressures have increased because consumption growth has outweighed efficiency gains

2. Housing, food and mobility cause on average two-thirds of environmental pressures

3. The SCP Action Plan is a step in the right direction - the financial crisis may provide new opportunities

4. EEA and its new Topic Centre on SCP will support the implementation of the SCP Action Plan and the actors in the SCP triangle of change

Messages

Message

s

Messages



Environmental and climate pressures have increased because consumption growth has outweighed efficiency gains

Message 1



Consumption growth outweighs efficiency gains

• Today’s cars are much cleaner and more fuel efficient than 15 years ago, (dark green) but...

• The number of cars on the road has more than doubled and people drive more (light green line) because of the lifestyle...

• Hence, higher impacts from transport (blue line)

Source: Europe’s environment – the fourth assessment (EEA, 2007)



Consumption growth outweighs efficiency gains

• Dishwashers, TVs and washing machines are much more efficient than 15 years ago, (dotted lines) but...

• the numbers in use have increased significantly (solid lines)

• Hence, higher electricity consumption (red line)

Source: Europe’s environment – the fourth assessment (EEA, 2007)



The production-consumption life-cycle of activities related to housing, food and mobility cause on average two-thirds of global environmental pressures from consumption in Europe, including

greenhouse gas emissions material use

Message 2

Source: EEA and ETC/RWM environmental accounts of selected EU countries



One week‘s food of a family in the United Kingdom

Source: „Hungry Planet: What The World Eats“, by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio

Food and drink: 18% of GHG emissions23% of material use



Housing and infrastructure: 24 % of GHG emissions32% of material use



Mobility: 18 % of GHG emissions7% of material use



The SCP Action Plan is a step in the right direction - the financial crises may provide new opportunities

Message 3



Recommendations for the SCP Action Plan from 100 participants in 2007 SCP Time for Action Conference

EU Directive on GPP

Clear Sustainability Targets

Getting the prices right

“Getting the prices right”

Environmental management in public administration

Benchmarking

Sustainability targets

Greening of private procurement

Coordination and coherence of policies

International definition of green / eco-product

Orientation of the Action PlanSpatial planning policies

Clearing house of SCP evidenceGreen Public Procurement

“Getting the prices right”

Green Public Procurement

Spatial planning policies

Sustainability targetsRevision of the European Eco-label & VAT

Integrated impact assessment of nat. policies

International definition of green / eco-product

1st round

2nd round

Final round



The SCP Action Plan and the financial crisis

Consumption is not expected to continue to grow significantly in 2009 and 2010 – some countries in recession

Less likely to be available for private investments. But opportunities to redirect investments (public and private) towards sustainable technology

Pressures to rethink balance between market and regulation

Prices – and integrating environmental externalities - become more important. Opportunities for green tax reforms.

Increased need for business to focus on ressource efficiency



EEA and its new European Topic Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (ETC-SCP) will support the implementation of the SCP Action and the actors in the SCP triangle of change

Message 4



EEA supporting SCP Action Plan and the actors in the triangle of change

EEA sustainable consumption scenarios

Public authoritie

s

Consumers

Business

Sustainable consumptio

n and production

EEA SCP indicators for Europe

EEA analyses on drivers of consumption

EEA green tips

EEA analyses of good practises in retailers

EEA green tips

EEA Environmental Technology Atlas EEA green consumption videos

EEA environmental accounts



Thank you for your attention

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Unsustainable consumption and production a big mouthful – also for the climate

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