1. Climate change one of our impacts Global surface temperature has risen significantly

Transcription

1 Sara Eppel Defra

2 1. Climate change one of our impacts Global surface temperature has risen significantly

3 Impacts of UK consumption patterns, CO2 Headline goes here When measured on a domestic production basis, UK emissions appear to have fallen However, on a domestic consumption basis, emissions have risen Net imported CO2 emissions Domestic production emissions (12% drop) Total UK emissions have risen 19% since Source: Helm, Smale & Phillips (2007) Too good to be true; the UK s climate change record

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5 Headline goes here One representation of the scale of the challenge: Impact = Population x Affluence x Technology Scenario 1 (on trend): Carbon content of no more than 36gCO 2 /dollar spent 21 times lower than the average carbon intensity today. Scenario 3 (all at EU level): 768 down to 14gCO2/$ spent 55 times lower Prof Tim Jackson Prosperity without Growth? SDC

6 75% of a UK individual s carbon impact is through the product and services we buy and use Million tonnes CO Estimated carbon emissions from UK household consumption, 2004 Indirect emissions Indirect emissions from services Appliances and other products Textiles Food and drink Aviation & public transport Indirect emissions from energy use Direct emissions Fuel for private cars Fuel use in the home Source: Based on estimates of embedded emissions, Stockholm Environment Institute, 2008

7 Impact : Embedded water = 150 litres of water = 11,000 litres of water = 4,000 litres of water Issues for business: Water supply: 70% used for agriculture, food production to increase by 50% by 2030 Water scarcity could lead to 30% reduction in harvests by 2030 (UNEP) Reputational and regulatory risks

8 What is a sustainable supply chain? REDUCED INPUTS: energy, water, materials, land Less raw material Seek recovered materials Sell higherperforming products Distribution and retail Demand better products Recover waste Remanufacture End of life Production Consumer use Innovate in design and technology Source better products Save energy and water, reduce waste Facilitate waste recycling REDUCED OUTPUTS: greenhouse gases, air emissions, effluent, solid waste Life Cycle Analysis of a product gives you the evidence of impacts

9 How can we progress sustainability in practice? LCA can improve tracking and influencing the supply chains and can allow traceability But we need to: share product data (generic) so we can develop Product Category Rules (carbon and? water). Please help us do this for hospitality and grocery products through a new Product Research Forum:. develop traceability systems for commodities (eg cotton) to enable labelling and consumer demand develop business collaboration without breaching competition rules eg Roadmaps develop new business models extending product life, more repair, less replace lead by example business as much as Government, it s your brand influence citizens to buy (are you making them?) and use products sustainably (are you influencing them?). You have an important role!

10 Core motivations and barriers to sustainable living What others are doing is key Understanding, knowledge, skills, and ability I won t if you don t and why should I - fairness is key People s behaviour follows the behaviour of others social norms People need to see exemplification e.g. from government and business People want to be involved e.g. active involvement in decision making Localism and community action feeling connected to the place I live People learn from each other - peer to peer learning Self efficacy & agency knowledge, skills and feeling capable of making a difference People are sceptical about the problem, causes, and value of action Understanding the science of climate change is not a prerequisite for action Ability to act and ease of action e.g. access to the right infrastructure What s in it for me Fit with self identity and status who I am and how others see me People are more concerned by loss (costs) than gain Lifestyle fit people don t really want to change their lives People only want to do their bit and no more people do enough to feel good It just makes sense and making a difference Not all sustainable behaviours are motivated by environmental concerns e.g. wastefulness, cost savings, and being a little frugal There is a disconnect between the small actions and the big issue People desire feedback on progress and validation

11 Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Sara Eppel Head of Sustainable Products and Consumers Defra