Centre for Environment and Development: Asian Review on Sustainable Consumption

Tuesday 27 February 2007

Asian Review on Sustainable Consumption

The presentation is based on the findings of the "Asian Review on Sustainable Consumption" conducted by Uchita de Zoysa, Centre for Environment & Development (CED) for SC.ASIA: Capacity Building for Implementation of UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection (Section G: Sustainable Consumption) in Asia.

The 12 countries studied in this review display significant differences in economic, social and cultural conditions. The group include least developed (LDC) countries such as Bangladesh, Laos, Vietnam and Nepal, as well as the two economic giants of the region; China and India. Also rapidly growing economies such as Malaysia and Thailand are represented as well as developing economies of Sri Lanka, Indonesia & Philippines.

The Asian Review has shown a holistic approach to achieving sustainable consumption.
The model presented was evolved as a result of the engagement of over 100 Asian GO, NGO & Industry organizations. SC.Asia is a truly an innovative initiative from Asia that can form the path of sustainable consumption policy planning and implementation in the world.

This model now needs to be further reviewed expanded to well suit the regional and country situations in Asia.

Full presentation is at: http://www.helplinetrust.org/EDC/updates/March2006/Foreign_Speakers/Uchita_files/frame.htm#slide0002.htm

CED Programmes & Activities

Some recent activities of CED have been to improve national and international policy and establish institutional mechanisms and social/political processes that can help create a better and sustainable world.

NCSD: In late 90’s CED successfully lobbied for the creation a National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD). During the year 2002 CED hosted a series of preliminary stakeholder meetings with participation of the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resource Management. This provided the background for the cabinet approval of the setting-up of the NCSD and for the formulation of the NSDS.
WSSD & National Report: CED was invited by the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resource Management to write the chapter on Civil Society Participation for the National Report to WSSD. CED also hosted the National Report consultation meeting for Civil Society on the invitation of the Ministry of Environment in Sri Lanka.
SC.Asia: CED teamed up with UNEP & Consumers International as the Asian partner for a project SC.Asia: Capacity Building for Implementation of UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection (Sustainable Consumption) in Asia. CED conducted reviews in 12 Asian countries and held meetings with over 100 government and NGO authorities working on Sustainable Consumption & Production. The Asian Review on Sustainable Consumption produced by CED has been recognized by world authorities as one of the best in the subject matter, specially with its uniquely Asian approach that challenges the conventional Northern thinking framework. CED also was a co-author of the UNEP published “Advancing Sustainable Consumption in Asia: A Guidance Manual” the first of its kind in the world.
Asian Expert Resource Center for SCP: CED has launched an Asian Expert Resource Centre for Sustainable Consumption & Production. The centre will establish a network of organizations workig on SCP issues in Asia and will jointly implement project with organizations in Europe and other parts of the world.
From Poverty to Sustainability: CED has initiated a project to eliminate poverty using sustainable consumption and production tools. The first project is a Community based Sustainable Coir Project conducted in partnership has already expanded into different areas such as micro credit fund, entrepreneurship programme and ICT skill development and will seek national & international partners for its implementation.
Better World Childrens’ Club: A club constituting chidren in the view of creating a better understanding and caring society. The club wuill be launched during the December 2005 school holidays. The project will aim at establishing chapters around the country and different parts of the world. A club twining progamme will then be facilitated. Programmes will include eco-camps, learning courses on sustianble living, no more waste campaigns, and many more. Already another chapter has been formed in Malaysia in partnership with ERA & FOMCA.
Consumer Protection Unit: CED has set-up a consumer protection unit and will execute the consumer redress centre, consumer legal assistance programme, comparative product testing programme and a consumer alert communications campaign. CED will find appropriate international and local partners to set-up the capacity on areas such as bio technology and testing etc.
CSR Parnerships: CED with will forge Public-pRivate Partnerships to implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. This will include offering training and capacity buildinh to organizations in the Asian Region.
Research, Communications, Training & Publications Division: The main activities include “The Sustainer” e-magazine, publication of Asian Review on Sustainable Consumption, CED Website, CSR Training Module etc.

Contributions to Global SCP Efforts

1. Advisory Board Member & Head of Asian Review - SC.Asia: Capacity Building for Implementation of UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection (Sustainable Consumption) in Asia”, a project coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (2004/5).
2. Principle Researcher & Author of the “Asian Review on Sustainable Consumption”. Over 100 organizations from government, civil society, industry and universities in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam were interviewed, a matching desk research conducted and over 50 case studies were compiled as part of the review.
3. Editorial member of the “Advancing Sustainable Consumption in Asia: A Guidence Manual” published by UNEP, 2005.
4. International Working Group - Sustainable Production and Consumption Systems (SPACES) appointed by the Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI) and Chiang Mai University, Thailand (since 2005)
5. Scientific Advisory Board Sustainable Consumption Research Network (SCORE) convened by TNO, (since 2006)
6. Maintaining a SC Help Desk to assist primarily NGOs and select government institutions and industries in Asia and to provide insight to other regions that network with CED and partners (since 2005).
7. Conducted a two day SC training workshop for Consumer Organizations in Malaysia (July 2006)
8. Helped develop a project for FOMCA in Malaysia for "Research on SC for Youth Behaviour" (2006)
9. Common NGO Speaker at the Stakeholder Forum at the 3rd International Expert Meeting on Sustainable Consumption and Production, Stockholm, Sweden.
10. Speaker at the Asia Pacific Expert Meetings on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, Yogyakartha, Indonesia (May 2003) & Seoul, Korea (November 2003)
11. A Keynote speaker, Session Chair and co-organizer of the “Regional Cross-Learning Seminar on Sustainable Consumption” organized by UNEP - Manila, Philippines (March 2005)
12. NGO Representative speaker on the Global Stakeholder Panel at the 3rd UN International Expert Meeting on SCP in Stockholm, Sweden. (May 2007)
13. Co-initiator of the Marrakech NGO Forum on SCP and co-author of the NGO Recommendations to the Marrakech-3 Meeting in Stockholm.
14. Presentations on the Asian Review on SC was made in numerous forums organised in Asia and Europe such as the ISO COPOLCO Meeting, ANPED AGM, NUTU Meeting on SC, SPACES International Dialogue, THT Pakistan's Regional Consumer Protection Conference, etc.
15. Initiating local community projects on SC called "From Poverty to Sustainability”
16. Initiating local community projects on SC called "Ensuring Wellbeing of Diary Farmers for Sustainability" in Sri Lanka.
17. Co-Author of the Oslo Declaration on Sustainable Consumption (2004)

Centre for Environment and Development

Tuesday 27 February 2007

Asian Review on Sustainable Consumption

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Centre for Environment and Development

Tuesday 27 February 2007

Asian Review on Sustainable Consumption

Contact Details:

My Blog List

CED Profile:

CED Programmes & Activities

Contributions to Global SCP Efforts

Subscribe To CED

Links