Oct 24, 2022 - Nov 25, 2022; Continuing Education
UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV Postgraduate Training86th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV International Short Course - Sustainability for Food Systems and Forest Products: the Role of Consumption and Production (SC86)
Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) aims at "doing more and better with less"- increasing net welfare gains from economic activities by reducing resource use, degradation, and pollution while improving the quality of life. SCP is essential to achieving a sustainable land use transition in line with the SDGs, the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, as it promotes resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and access to essential services. Its implementation helps achieve overall development plans, reduce future economic, environmental and social costs, strengthen economic competitiveness and reduce poverty as dimensions of resilient and inclusive growth. SCP is essential to halting and reversing the loss of forests and biodiversity, and land degradation.
Consumption and production of food and forest products and related services highly depend on the use of natural resources, affecting biodiversity and ecosystems services. The production and extraction of agricultural goods and forest products alter landscapes and natural systems across the planet and support as well as impact the livelihoods of billions of people. Therefore, efforts under SDG 12 have a central role to play in developing strategies that acknowledge the complexity and interconnectedness of resource availability and demand in order to effectively target the fundamental drivers of change.
About 60% of the world’s forests – approximately 2.4 billion hectares – are primarily or partially used for the production of wood and non-wood forest products. A growing population and dietary changes are increasing demand for land to cultivate crops and graze animals. This increases the pressure on forest resources, while the rate of net forest loss is already unsustainably high.
The food system is a major contributor to climate change and biodiversity loss, responsible for around 30% of global GHG emissions. Agriculture uses one-third of the land surface, thereof globally about two thirds for the production of animal food and is thereby a major driver of deforestation. Moreover, according to FAO’s 2019 report on “The state of food and agriculture”, 14% of the world’s food is lost after harvesting and before reaching the retail level, including through on-farm activities, storage and transportation. Reducing food loss and waste is an important way to improve food security and nutrition, promote environmental sustainability and lower production costs. The importance of the agriculture sector, mainly the animal production and the forest sector for climate change mitigation lies not only in the potential to reduce emissions but also in its potential contribution to removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Beyond their impact on the climate system, food and forest products are consumption clusters where consumers can substantially influence the total environmental burden associated with their consumption choice. SCP requires a systemic approach and cooperation among actors operating in food systems and in forest value chains, from producer to final consumer. Culture, the economic system, institutions, business models and infrastructures are also crucial to enable less consuming lifestyles, to increase eco-efficiency and to create a more sustainable and inclusive path to economic development, prosperity, and well-being.
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