Transitions to sustainable lifestyles in Europe in a 2050 perspective

Almut Reichel Project Manager SCP and waste, European Environment Agency

Collaboration for Sustainable Lifestyles through Business and Social Innovations, 4-5 November 2013

Key messages

Global megatrends are increasing pressures on the environment

Europe: technological improvements are outweighed by growing consumption

Vision 2050: a sustainable world needs major changes

Global developments

Population growth

EEA SOER2010

Continued economic growth

Past and projected global economic output (2005 USD PPP), 1996–2050

Note: gross domestic product expressed in billion 2005 US dollars at purchasing power parity. Source: OECD 2013: 'All Statistics - OECD iLibrary'.

Middle class population by world regions, 2009 and 2020

Kharas (2010)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

North America Europe Central and SouthAmerica

Asia Pacific Sub-SaharanAfrica

Middle East andNorth Africa

Million

2009

2020

Global resource use

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1980 1990 2000 2008 2010* 2020* 2030* 2040* 2050*

Metals

Fossil fuels

Minerals

Biomass

Note: *projection Source:SERI (2013): SERI Global Material Flows Database. 2013 Edition. Available at: www.materialflows.net

European developments

Material use decoupling: EU statistics

Source: EEA 2012: Material resources and waste – 2012 update

EU materials trade balance

EEA 2012

Europe’s ecological footprint and biocapacity

Stock and energy efficiency of selected household appliances

EU-27

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Stock TV

total consumption allappliances

Stock washing machine

Stock refrigerator

Specific consumptionTV

Specific consumptionwashing machine

Specific consumptionrefrigerator

Source: SCP023 indicator (draft)

index

We need to address all stages of the life-cycle

Production Improving the eco-efficiency of

production of goods and services

Consumption

Reducing consumption levels and/or changing consumption patterns

away from eco-intensive goods and services

Products/Services

Improving products and services using eco-design and other measures

End-of-life

Improving the eco-efficiency of waste management including reuse and

recycling

The EU vision for 2050

‘Our prosperity and healthy environment stem from an innovative, circular economy were nothing is wasted and where natural resources are managed in ways that enhance our society‘s resilience.

Our low carbon growth has long been decoupled from resource use, setting the pace for a global sustainable economy.‘

‘Our prosperity and healthy environment stem from an innovative, circular economy were nothing is wasted and where natural resources are managed in ways that enhance our society‘s resilience.

Our low carbon growth has long been decoupled from resource use, setting the pace for a global sustainable economy.‘

EU‘s 7th Environmental Action Programme

Transition needed to meet the 2050 vision

Almut Reichel

Project Manager, Sustainable Consumption & Production and Waste

www.eea.europa.eu

Thank you!