Leapfrogging Possibilities For Sustainable Consumption and ...

important services are food, water, transport and waste management. Developing and
implementing mechanism of supplying these services using SCP approach contributes
to 36 :
Ensure secure food items by applying, among others, a labelling system,
supported by independent testing/verification of product features.
Avoid depletion of water reserves by applying water usage plans, by
minimizing distribution losses and pollution of water reserves, and by
promoting technologies using less water (in industry and households).
Provide access to safe and affordable transport, by giving preference to public
transport systems for medium distances, and non-motorized transport systems
for short distances.
Avoid littering and illegal waste dumping by promoting sustainable product
design and by establishing a recycling system supported by economic
incentives.
Establish markets for sustainable products, such as organic food, by adopting
green procurement policies.
In Africa, the grand mission of reducing and gradually eliminating poverty and hunger
while attaining environmental sustainability can be accomplished through actions that are
directly relevant to SCP. These actions include 37 :
Acceleration of sustainable industrial development
Promotion of the development of SMEs
Increase of sustainable agricultural production for food security.
Avoid depletion of water resources by water conservation measures.
Increase energy efficiency and access to affordable energy sources.
Establish markets for sustainable products, such as organic food, by adopting
green procurement policies.
Human-resource development and capacity building, including universal primary
and secondary education.
Better terms of trade with developed countries.
Improvement of infrastructure and sustainable human settlement patterns: to
reduce congestion and pollution and improve access to infra-structural services
such as Water and Sanitation.
Improvement of the scientific and technological base relating to environmental
management
SCP contributes to sustainable economic development by ensuring that resources are
utilised in an as efficient way as possible, through improved technologies, increased
consumer awareness, better integration of governmental policies, economic instruments,
legislation, etc 38 .
36
UNEP (2005)
37 ARSCP and UNEP (2006a)
38 UNEP (2005)
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