Main conclusions of the meeting

            
The International Expert Meeting on the 10-Year Framework of Programmes for Sustainable Consumption and Production was held in Marrakech, Morocco, from 16 to 19 June 2003. The conclusions and main recommendations are included in the Chair's Summary. Conclusions were: 

• The Marrakech Process on sustainable consumption and production, in which a number of priorities were identified, is a basic step towards the development of a 10-year framework of programmes, which needs to be further encouraged and promoted in order to ensure effective support to national and regional initiatives to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production to promote social and economic development within the carrying capacity of the ecosystems.

• In this respect, and while recognising the effectiveness of a set of actions which should be further pursued and reinforced at all levels, a number of challenges in implementation were identified which remain to be solved with respect to the four themes which had been identified for discussion.

• The Marrakech Process emphasized the importance of integrating the three dimensions of sustainable development in formulating policies for promoting sustainable consumption and production. It further underlined the importance of ensuring the integration of sustainable consumption and production in national sustainable development strategies and, where applicable in poverty reduction strategies.

• The Marrakech Process indicated that clearly defining sustainable consumption and production is key. After detailed debates on the breadth and scope of the subject over a significant period of time (10 years), the challenge is to move from the more generic to the specific and focus on implementation.

• The need to obtain political commitment to the issue for sustainable consumption and production at the highest level in governments, international organizations, private sector and civil society was highlighted. Raising awareness on the benefits of sustainable consumption and production and mainstreaming of sustainable consumption and production at all levels was considered essential. 

• The Marrakech Process recognised the importance for governments to specify their priorities in the area of sustainable consumption and production in order to ensure an effective and well targeted international co-operation.

• For furthering progress in promoting sustainable consumption and production, institutional and social capacity building was seen as a major challenge. In addition, the need for development and diffusion of sustainable technologies and financial means for implementing policies and programmes for sustainable consumption and production was recognized.

• Dissemination of information was considered important in promoting sustainable consumption and production and the need for effective use of practical tools, including awareness-raising, education, training, media and advertising was highlighted.

It was agreed that active involvement of all stakeholders in relevant fora at all levels is essential and should be promoted. Partnerships involving governments, international organizations and civil society were considered a successful instrument to promote sustainable consumption and production.

• The ongoing Marrakech Process should consist of:

(a) Targeted responses by international organisations corresponding to governments・priorities in the area of sustainable consumption and production. On this basis, UN DESA and UNEP are asked to expand the 鉄urvey of International Activities on Consumption and Production Patterns・compiled by UN DESA, with regard to the identified priorities for the Marrakech Process to make it more comprehensive and make it available to all countries;

(b) Establishment of mechanisms that encourage and support information and experience sharing, network building, and dissemination of best practice. Such mechanisms could be interactive web sites and expert meetings on specific issues under the sustainable consumption and production umbrella;

(c) Involvement of all stakeholders and establishment of concrete partnerships. Business and business associations were called on to implement sustainable production and consumption including through business-to-business partnerships at all levels, and promote a sustainable business culture;

(d) An invitation to UN-DESA, together with UN-HABITAT, and in collaboration with UNEP and other relevant organizations and relevant financial institutions, to prepare, based on the work of this meeting, and in particular on the priorities identified at this meeting, a report on the actions needed at the international level to support national action in the waste, transportation, construction, and water and sanitation sectors, indicating the agencies, organizations, institutions, etc. that should be involved in each action;

(e) Strengthening of regional processes in all regions, which would also contribute to the international process. At the international level, the Marrakech Process should include a broad expert meeting for the 10-year framework of programmes in two years time, supported by international organizations and donor contributions. The ongoing Marrakech Process on sustainable consumption and production should be supported by informal task forces or round tables on sustainable consumption and production, with participation of experts from developing and developed countries, to promote progress on the 10-year framework and the implementation of Chapter 3 in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;

(f) Subsequent international expert meetings to address a wide range of sustainable consumption and production issues, also taking into account the work programme of the Commission on Sustainable Development;

(g) Dissemination of this report to other UN agencies, international financial institutions, NGOs and business. Governments are invited to take into account the outcome of this meeting in the preparations for the governing bodies of all relevant UN agencies and programmes.

Back to the main page