Sustainable Consumption & Production: the EU Action Plan Herbert Aichinger Public Hearing on SCP - EESC Brussels, 10 December 2008

Climate change Greenhouse gas emissions 2.5 – 3 fold increase by 2050 > 50% Reduction needed

Biodiversity and natural resources Natural resource extraction up to 5 times by Ecological footprint in developed world 2.5 – 5.0 earths Extinction of species from 50 to 1000 times faster than natural processes.

Prices do not reflect costs Unsustainable Production & Consumption Biased Information Unbalanced Markets Market Distortions Green House Gasses Pollution DepletionResources Climate Change Threats to Human Health Threats to Biodiversity Degradation air, water, soil… Population growth Spending power Economic growth Fixed behaviour of consumers

Challenges Reduce environmental stress in growing economy Towards an energy and resource efficient economy - Do More with Less Increase coherence of existing instruments

The EC Response: Sustainable Consumption and Production Action Plan Addressing social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems and decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation. Adopted on 16 July 2008

The SCP Action Plan Approach Continuously improve products environmental performance over life-cycle Stimulate demand for better products and production technologies Empower better choices for retailers and consumers In an Integrated and Strengthened Framework

SCP Action Plan: Core Elements 1.Better Products 2.Smarter Consumption 3.Leaner Production 4.Action at global level

Better Products Approach: Exclude bad performance Promote good performance Continuous Improvement Key Legislation: Extended Eco-design Directive Revised Energy Labelling Directive Revised Eco-label Regulation

Scope: All energy-using & energy-related products (in the future: all products?) Minimum requirements in I.M. (mandatory) Benchmarks of environmental performance (voluntary) Periodical update of requirements and benchmarks The Legislative Cornerstone: Extended Eco-design Directive

Minimum requirement Environmental Performance Benchmark Continuous Improvement BadAcceptable Good

Performance levels to provide consistent framework across EU Member State incentives Good product eligible to tax rebates Mandatory Green Public Procurement Not procure below set benchmark Smarter Consumption Incentives

Ecodesign: Voluntary benchmarks Compulsory CE mark Eco-label Voluntary « Label of excellence » EU GPP Stimulate market for better products ensuring adequate competition Ecodesign Mandatory exclusion from markets Labelling Directive A+++ A++ A+ A B C D G EU GPP Prohibition to procure Incentives Product Category

Establishing a Retail Forum to Promote sustainable products Reduce environmental footprint of retail sector Green the supply chains Share best practices Smarter Consumption Not an Exclusive club: Wider participation encouraged

Actions at Global Level Promote good practice: SCP Action Plan as input to UN Marrakech process Promote international trade in environmentally friendly goods and services

Overview Published: Proposal for extended Ecodesign Directive Proposal for revised Energy Labelling Directive Proposal for revised Ecolabel Regulation Proposal for revised EMAS Regulation Communication on Green Public Procurement Further actions later in 2009 Environmental Technology Verification Scheme Retailer Forum Review of Actions: 2012 Extend Ecodesign & Labelling directives

Thank you ! European Commission DG Environment Sustainable Consumption and Production