Goal 12 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals underscores the critical importance of transitioning towards responsible consumption and production patterns.
With our planet’s resources being depleted at an alarming rate, it is imperative to adopt practices that promote environmental stewardship, minimise waste generation, and foster sustainable economic growth.
What does UN SDG 12 include?
Here are the targets under the UN‘s Goal 12 that provide a framework for action towards responsible consumption and production:
Implement the 10-year sustainable consumption and production framework (Target 12.1): All countries should take action to implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, with developed countries leading the way and considering the capabilities of developing countries.
Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources (Target 12.2): By 2030, aim to achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources to ensure their availability for future generations.
Halve global per capita food waste (Target 12.3): By 2030, aim to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains.
Ensure responsible management of chemicals and waste (Target 12.4): By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, minimizing their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
Substantially reduce waste generation (Target 12.5): By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse practices.
Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and reporting (Target 12.6): Encourage companies, especially large and transnational ones, to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
Promote sustainable public procurement practices (Target 12.7): Promote sustainable public procurement practices aligned with national policies and priorities to drive demand for sustainable products and services.
Ensure universal understanding of sustainable lifestyles (Target 12.8): By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
Support developing countries’ scientific and technological capacity (Target 12.9): Support developing countries in strengthening their scientific and technological capacity to transition towards more sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Develop tools to monitor sustainable tourism impacts (Target 12.A): Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for tourism, ensuring that tourism creates jobs and promotes local culture and products without harming the environment.
Remove market distortions that encourage wasteful consumption (Target 12.B): Rationalise inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption, restructuring taxation and phasing out harmful subsidies to reflect environmental impacts while protecting the poor and affected communities.
By addressing these targets and promoting sustainable consumption and production practices, individuals, businesses, and governments can work together to build a more resilient, equitable, and environmentally sustainable future for all, according to the United Nations.
To learn more about how to improve sustainability in your business, make sure you read www.sustainabilityonline.net. For more details on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, click here.
