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Sustainable Consumption & Sustainable Consumption &
Production: the EU Action PlanProduction: the EU Action Plan
Herbert AichingerHerbert AichingerPublic Hearing on SCP - EESCPublic Hearing on SCP - EESC
Brussels, 10 December 2008 Brussels, 10 December 2008
Climate change
Greenhouse gas emissions 2.5 – 3 fold increase by 2050
> 50% Reduction needed
Biodiversity and natural resourcesBiodiversity and natural resources
Natural resource extraction up to 5 times by 2050.
Ecological footprint in developed world 2.5 – 5.0 earths
Extinction of species from 50 to 1000 times faster than natural processes.
Prices do not reflect costs
Unsustainable Production & Consumption
Biased Information
UnbalancedMarkets
Market Distortions
Green House Green House Gasses Gasses
Pollution Pollution Depletion Depletion Resources Resources
Climate Change Threats to Human Health
Threats to Biodiversity
Degradation Degradation air, water, soil… air, water, soil…
Population growth
Spending power Economic growth
Fixed behaviour
of consumers
ChallengesChallenges
Reduce environmental stress in growing economy
Towards an energy and resource efficient economy - “Do More with Less”
Increase coherence of existing instruments
The EC Response:
Sustainable Consumption and Production Action Plan
“Addressing social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems and decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation.”
Adopted on 16 July 2008
The The SCP Action Plan ApproachSCP Action Plan Approach
Continuously improve products environmental performance over life-cycle
Stimulate demand for better products and production technologies
Empower better choicesfor retailers and consumers
In an Integrated and Strengthened Framework
SCP Action Plan: Core ElementsSCP Action Plan: Core Elements
1. Better Products
2. Smarter Consumption
3. Leaner Production
4. Action at global level
Better ProductsBetter Products
Approach: Exclude “bad” performance Promote “good” performance Continuous Improvement
Key Legislation: Extended Eco-design Directive Revised Energy Labelling Directive Revised Eco-label Regulation
Scope: All energy-using & energy-related products (in the future: all products?)
Minimum requirements in I.M. (mandatory)
Benchmarks of environmental performance (voluntary)
Periodical update of requirements and benchmarks
The Legislative Cornerstone:Extended Eco-design Directive
Minimumrequirement
Environmental PerformanceBenchmark
Continuous ImprovementContinuous Improvement
Bad Acceptable Good
Performance levels to provide consistent framework across EU
Member State incentives Good product eligible to tax rebates
Mandatory Green Public Procurement Not procure below set benchmark
Smarter ConsumptionSmarter ConsumptionIncentivesIncentives
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Ecodesign:
Voluntary benchmarks
Compulsory CE mark
Eco-label
Voluntary
« Label of excellence »
EU GPP
Stimulate market for better products ensuring adequate competition
Ecodesign
Mandatory exclusion from markets
Labelling Directive
A+++
A++
A+
A
B
C
D
G
EU GPP
Prohibition to procure
Incentives
Product Category
Establishing a Retail Forum to Promote sustainable products
Reduce environmental footprint of retail sector
Green the supply chains
Share best practices
Smarter ConsumptionSmarter Consumption
Not an Exclusive club:
Wider participation encouraged
Actions at Global Level
Promote good practice: SCP Action Plan as input to UN Marrakech process
Promote international trade in environmentally friendly goods and services
OverviewOverview
Published: Proposal for extended Ecodesign Directive
Proposal for revised Energy Labelling Directive
Proposal for revised Ecolabel Regulation
Proposal for revised EMAS Regulation
Communication on Green Public Procurement
Further actions later in 2009
Environmental Technology Verification Scheme
Retailer Forum
Review of Actions: 2012 Extend Ecodesign & Labelling directives
Thank you !
European CommissionDG EnvironmentSustainable Consumption andProduction
www.ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/escp_en.hm
