Date: 28th November 2024
Time: 14:00 – 15:30 (Bangkok time, GMT+7)
Location: Online via zoom (Register below to join the webinar)
This webinar is part of a series of events designed to advance sustainable consumption and production in the region. Organized with support of GO4SDGs and the 10YFP, in collaboration with AIT, this series brings together experts and stakeholders committed to driving impactful change. Read more on the previous webinars on Food Waste Reduction as well as on Science and Policy Linkages on SCP
Background
Why sustainable lifestyles matter?
By 2050, the world’s population may reach a whopping 10 billion and with more people comes more demand for – food, fashion, travel, housing and related aspirations. An increasing number of people are unable to meet basic needs while two to three billion new urban consumers and youth will receive the majority of their information from social media. In a world stretched thin for resources and under the threat of global biodiversity loss and climate change, our lifestyles decisions are putting the planet at risk. We need targeted action.
The Asia-Pacific region faces significant environmental and social challenges driven by rapid urbanization, economic growth, and shifting consumption patterns.
In the last three decades, the global population grew by 44%, with significant increases in South Asia (60%) and East Asia and Pacific (28%). Global gross domestic product (GDP) also rose substantially, indicating economic growth and prosperity. Human Development Index (HDI) increased steadily, reflecting improved living standards, education, and healthcare. However, carbon footprint and domestic greenhouse gas emissions rose globally by almost 54%, with even higher increases in East Asia and Pacific (carbon footprint: 138%) and South Asia (carbon footprint: 142%)1. Putting this data in the global picture, in recent years, the Asia Pacific region has been responsible for more than half of global greenhouse gas emissions and besides climate change, also water stress and land-related biodiversity impacts particularly increased, having as primary driver affluence (per capita income) 2.
These trends highlight the urgent need for sustainable policies that balance economic growth with environmental preservation in the context of a growing population. Sustainable lifestyles play a crucial role in this transformation, and establishing the right enabling conditions is essential to scale these efforts inclusively.
What is sustainable Lifestyles?
A “sustainable lifestyle” is a cluster of habits and patterns of behavior embedded in a society and facilitated by institutions, norms and infrastructures that frame individual choice, in order to minimize the use of natural resources and generation of wastes, while supporting fairness and prosperity for all.
In other words, sustainable lifestyles means understanding how our lifestyle choices impact the world around us and finding ways for everyone to live better and lighter. As citizens, at home and at work, the choices we make on food, housing, mobility, consumer goods, leisure, communication, etc. contribute, or not, to building sustainable lifestyles.3
Creating sustainable lifestyles requires a change in social norms, policies and in the design and infrastructure of the systems that support lifestyles. It means rethinking our ways of living – including how we buy and organize our everyday lives, and providing the enabling conditions (regulatory framework, incentives, right market signals, consumer information, sustainable products, etc.) to adopt and making sustainable lifestyles the norm.
Global commitment to promoting sustainable lifestyles.
The Sustainable Development Goal 12 "Responsible consumption and production” in its target 12.8 calls upon: “By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.”
Member states have reaffirmed their commitment. At the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) at its Sixth Session adopted the 6.8 Resolution on Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles on 1st March 20244, emphasizing the need for transformative shifts in individual and collective behavior to promote sustainable consumption patterns and lifestyles globally. Sustainable lifestyles are fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, as they address the root causes of overconsumption and inefficient resource use.
The Resolution requests UNEP, in partnership with United Nations regional commissions, to hold regional dialogues, to discuss sustainable lifestyles practices in the context of, inter alia, the diversity of nature’s values and approaches, including, as appropriate, ecocentric approaches, of individuals and communities including that of Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, for living in harmony with nature, or Mother Earth, as recognized by some countries and regions, to enable sustainable lifestyles; and to submit to the United Nations Environment Assembly at its seventh session a report on those dialogues and on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution.
The Regional Dialogue on Sustainable Lifestyles in Asia and the Pacific, organized by UNEP under the GO4SDGs initiative, aims to catalyze regional action by facilitating discussions on policies, practices, and behaviors that promote sustainable living. The dialogue will build upon the UNEA 6.8 Resolution, bringing together stakeholders from diverse sectors to share knowledge, foster partnerships, and accelerate the adoption of sustainable lifestyles across the region.
Objectives
The dialogue will aim to:
- Raise Awareness on the importance of sustainable lifestyles for climate, nature and pollution: Increase understanding of sustainable lifestyles in the regional context and their critical role in addressing environmental challenges and advancing the SDGs, also bringing the scientific basis.
- Share regional visions and approaches of sustainable lifestyles
- Showcase some best Practices: Share innovative approaches and successful initiatives from across the region that have effectively promoted sustainable lifestyles and reduced environmental impacts.
- Discuss enabling policies to make sustainable lifestyles the norm
- Foster cooperation for action!: Strengthen collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society to advance sustainable consumption and lifestyle practices at national and regional levels.
Expected Outcomes
- Enhanced Regional Collaboration: Strengthened partnerships between governments, private sector actors, and civil society organizations to advance regional action on sustainable lifestyles.
- Best Practices and Knowledge Sharing: A compilation of successful initiatives, policies, and practices that have effectively promoted sustainable consumption and lifestyles across the region.
- UNEA 6.8 Resolution: support the implementation of the Resolution on Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles
Target Audience
- National and local government representatives from Asia-Pacific countries
- Private sector actors, across different high impact sectors (food, textiles, fashion, mobility)
- Civil society organizations and youth
- Researchers and academics working on sustainable consumption, behavior change, and SCP
- International organizations, including UNEP and relevant UN agencies
Join Zoom Meeting (click the link)
Meeting ID: 989 1496 0964 Passcode: 124260 Organized by: UNEP, GO4SDGs and 10YFP, in collaboration with Asian Institute of Technology
