While specific actions have been taken to improve resource use efficiency in a specific industry or area, this has not resulted in their widespread adoption across sectors and industries.ĭata indicate a rise of almost 40 per cent in the global material footprint per capita, from 8.8 metric tons in 2000 to 12.2 metric tons in 2017. In 2020, 136 policies and 27 implementation activities were reported, bringing the total number to over 700. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a window of opportunity for exploring more inclusive and equitable development models that are underpinned by sustainable consumption and production.įrom 2017 to 2020, 83 countries, territories and the European Union shared information on their contribution to the implementation of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns. They can also trigger the transformations envisaged in global commitments on biodiversity, the climate, and sustainable development in general.
Changes in consumption and production patterns can help to promote the decoupling of economic growth and human well-being from resource use and environmental impact. For decades, scientists have been explaining the ways in which humanity is driving the three planetary crises of climate, biodiversity and pollution, all of which are linked to unsustainable production and consumption.
