The problems related to the process of industrialisation such as biodiversity depletion
climate change and a worsening of health and living conditions especially but not only in
developing countries intensify. Therefore there is an increasing need to search for
integrated solutions to make development more sustainable. The United Nations has acknowledged
the problem and approved the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. On 1st January 2016 the
17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda officially came into force. These goals
cover the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth social inclusion and
environmental protection. The Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
comprehensively addresses the SDGs in an integrated way. It encompasses 17 volumes each one
devoted to one of the 17 SDGs. This volume addresses SDG 12 namely Ensure sustainable
consumption and production patterns and contains the description of a range of terms which
allows a better understanding and fosters knowledge. Concretely the defined targets are:
Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production
Patterns all countries taking action with developed countries taking the lead taking into
account the development and capabilities of developing countries Achieve the sustainable
management and efficient use of natural resources Halve per capita global food waste at the
retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains including
post-harvest losses Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes
throughout their life cycle in accordance with agreed international frameworks and
significantly reduce their release to air water and soil in order to minimize their adverse
impacts on human health and the environment Substantially reduce waste generation through
prevention reduction recycling and reuse Encourage companies especially large and
transnational companies to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability
information into their reporting cycle Promote public procurement practices that are
sustainable in accordance with national policies and priorities Ensure that people everywhere
have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in
harmony with nature Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and
technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism
that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel
subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions in accordance
with national circumstances including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful
subsidies where they exist to reflect their environmental impacts taking fully into account
the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse
impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities
Editorial Board Medani P. Bhandari Luciana Londero Brandli Morgane M. C. Fritz Ulla A. Saari
Leonardo L. Sta Romana
