Changing the way individuals and enterprises produce, choose and consume goods and services is an integral element of political programmes on Green Economy and sustainable development.

On February 9-10, government, civil society and business representatives from 14 East European states took part in a UNEP-led regional meeting at the Romanian Parliament Palace in Bucharest to share best practices on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP).

“The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals has truly provided new momentum for sustainable consumption and production, both as goal 12 [on ‘ensuring sustainable production and consumption patterns’] and in 12 other goals,” said Jan Dusik, Director of UNEP’s Regional Office for Europe, at the event, highlighting the importance of SCP towards achieving the SDGs adopted last September.

In-depth discussions took place on sustainable buildings and construction, sustainable food systems and consumer information tools. Numerous success stories were shared, including networks that promote trade in locally-sourced goods, shops that encourage consumer awareness by selling unpackaged goods, as well as sectoral and macro-economic strategies for eco-innovation and the efficient use of resources.

Mr. Laszlo Borbely, Chairman of Committee for Foreign Policy of Romania, meanwhile highlighted how building political will and empowering parliamentary action is key for shifting to SCP patterns in the region. Education and awareness-raising among youths will also be essential, he stressed.

Non-government stakeholders – in particular the private sector – will be crucial for accelerating implementation of SCP and the overall 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, affirmed H.E. Christiana Pasca Palmer, the Romanian Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests.

Actions and policies to shift to SCP should furthermore feature prominently in the upcoming Environment for Europe conference this June, she added.

The meeting was held under the auspices of the Ten Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP). This global initiative was adopted at Rio+20 to support the development and scaling-up of policies, practices and information tools that promote resource efficiency and decouple countries’ economic growth from environmental degradation.

This event was co-organised by UNEP and Romania’s Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests. It was sponsored by the European Commission and the Federal Office of the Environment of the Swiss Federation.

For more information about the meeting and the 10YFP, please contact: katie.tuck@unep