2.1 What is responsible consumption and production?

Sustainable consumption is the use of services and related products which respond to basic needs and which bring a better quality of life to people. Sustainable production is the creation of goods and services using processes and systems that are non-polluting, that conserve and preserve energy and natural resources, that are economically viable, safe and healthy for workers and consumers, and that are socially and creatively rewarding. (UNESCO, 2019)

Data and Statistics / Facts and Figures:

• The global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050. The equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles (Affairs, Department of Economic and Social, 2019)
• If people worldwide switched to energy efficient light bulbs the world would save US$120 billion annually. (United Nations, 2019)
• Less than 3 % of the world’s water is fresh (drinkable), of which 2.5 per cent is frozen in the Antarctica, Arctic and glaciers. More than 1 billion people still do not have access to fresh water. Over 2 billion people live in countries experiencing high water stress.
• The global population without access to electricity fell from 1.2 billion in 2010 to 840 million in 2017. (United Nations, 2019)
• Each year, an estimated 1/3 of all food produced – equivalent to 1.3 billion tons worth around $1 trillion – ends up rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers, or spoiling due to poor transportation and harvesting practices (United Nations, 2019)
• The food sector accounts for around 30 % of the world’s total energy consumption and accounts for around 22 per cent of total Greenhouse Gas emissions. (United Nations, 2019)
• Over 800 million people are still hungry (70% of whom live in rural areas in developing countries), about two billion suffer from poor nutrition, and over two billion are overweight or obese. 38 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2019. (United Nations, 2019)