Global survey shows slow progress on unsustainable consumption guidelines

Global survey shows slow progress on unsustainable consumption guidelines

Three years after UN Assembly ratification, a global survey has found slow progress from governments on implementing the Sustainable Consumption Guidelines in the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection.

In a joint assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Consumers International (CI), the survey found that over 38% of the governments responding were not even aware of the Guidelines’ existence.

According to the Survey, “Tracking Progress: Implementing Sustainable Consumption Policies,” of the 52 governments that responded (150 governments approved the Guidelines in 1999), only 56% promote research on sustainable consumption with the same percentage using relevant economic instruments such as ‘green taxes.'” It also notes only 54% measure the progress of their nations toward more sustainable consumption patterns.

More encouragingly, the survey found that 80% of the governments that responded believe the guidelines are useful for policy making and the same number have initiated information campaigns on sustainable consumption in their countries.

In analysing the survey, each responding country was given a score based on progress with implementing the guidelines, from 0 (no implementation) to 10 (implementation of all parts of the guidelines has started).

The scores are as follows:

10 Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka and Sweden
9 People’s Republic of China, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Vanuatu
8 Canada, Hong Kong (China SAR), Kuwait, Seychelles and Slovak Republic
7 Argentina, Chad, El Salvador, Fiji, Israel, Japan and Zimbabwe
6 Kiribati, Mauritius, New Zealand, Senegal and Switzerland
5 Austria, Chile, Croatia, Indonesia, Italy and Uruguay
4 Bulgaria and Côte d’Ivoire
3 Costa Rica and Haiti
1 Burundi, Ecuador and Kenya
0 Cyprus and Zambia

Estonia and Finland surveys were returned after the deadline and therefore are not included in the analysis.

The survey found that two-thirds of countries promote environmental product testing and eco-labelling of products. Other examples of successful projects to encourage sustainable consumption included:

Australia’s “Green Games 2000 Initiative”, recycling programmes on aluminium cans, mobile phones, batteries, newsprint and waste oil
Environment Industries Action Agenda and a tax on Sydney car park spaces
Brazil’s green labelling programmes, product testing and consumer surveys
Chile’s campaigns to promote sustainable consumption in water, waste and electricity services and the start of a cleaner production programme
China’s Law on Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, publicity and education programmes, environmental labelling, energy-saving campaigns for household electrical appliances, certification of environmentally sound products and 30% sales tax reduction for light vehicles
Germany’s “Green Dot” recycling scheme, “Blue Angel” ecolabelling, eco-tax on mineral oil and green public procurement website
Japan’s Laws on green procurement, recycling and waste management and financial incentives for buying electric, natural gas, methanol and hybrid vehicles
Mauritius’ awareness raising campaigns on use of solar systems, reuse of paper and prudent use of plastic products, “Children as consumers” campaign and the ‘e-government’ campaign, aimed at a decrease of use of paper in government’s offices
Senegal’s information campaigns on saving energy, transportation in Dakar, and a women’s group action to recycle plastic rubbish.
As a result of the findings of this survey, UNEP and Consumers International are calling for a time-bound programme of implementation (by 2004). Such a programme, involving governments and other stakeholders (such as National Cleaner Production Centres), will include awareness raising, further clarification<