The objective of this work element is to evaluate the
effectiveness of command-and-control, economic and social instruments in
country-specific situations, in order to facilitate a better
understanding of the policy options that are available to policy makers
in all countries.
Various agencies, national governments, and institutes (e.g. the
World Bank, UNEP, OECD, the International Institute for Sustainable
Development (IISD), the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), and the
Harvard Institute for International Development) have undertaken
research aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of policy instruments
for changing consumption and production patterns.
The project "Instruments for Change", a collaborative
project of the DSD and the IISD was undertaken with funding from
the Government of Norway. The project created an internet resource
database of examples of innovative policy instruments developed in
various countries for changing consumption and production patterns.
The database, on the internet site "http://iisd.ca/susprod/"
, includes sections on Definitions
and Concepts, Key
Sources, a Compendium
of Instruments, Project
Information, and information about electronic
and other Conferences related to "Changing Consumption and
Production Patterns". The Compendium of Instruments
includes about 100 different types of regulatory, market-based, social,
and other types of instruments in various countries.
Another project undertaken in the context of this work element is the
analysis of the implications of using Factor 4/10 as a strategy for
policy implementation. The Nordic Council of Ministers prepared a
study on "Factors 4 and 10 in the Nordic countries", which was
presented at CSD-7. The report includes case studies on the transport
sector in Denmark, the forestry sector in Finland, the real estate
sector and building sector in Norway, and the food supply chain in
Sweden. For more information, please click on "News
and Trends"(April-June, 1999).
The Division for Sustainable Development has also completed a study
"Promoting Sustainable
Production and Consumption: Five Policy Studies" (ST/ESA/1998/DP.7).
The study analyzes and evaluates acid rain reduction in the United
States, leaded gasoline phase-out in Slovakia and the United
States, palm oil effluent reduction in Malaysia, tradeable carbon offset
instruments in Costa Rica, and tradeable water rights in Chile.
The Division has also launched an initiative on promoting sustainable
public procurement.
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