Local governments advancing sustainable consumption

We have seen great strides to enable sustainable consumption, both internationally via the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, and nationally via sustainable consumption strategies.

The role of local governments however remains largely unexamined. Our panel of speakers will showcase how local governments can advance both municipal sustainable consumption through public procurement and the sustainable consumption of citizens and businesses.’

Changing the way we consume will require individuals to adjust their lifestyles, businesses to choose sustainable suppliers and products, and governments, both national and local, to provide the infrastructure, services and products that allow citizens to consume less or consume more sustainably.

Global challenges such as excessive resource extraction, increasing pollution and loss of biodiversity are directly linked to increasing consumption of goods and services. Citizens, businesses and governments in developed countries currently consume at an unsustainable rate. Finding ways to support, advance and enable sustainable consumption is an essential step to solving these global challenges.

Agenda:

• 13:00 – 13:05 Welcome and introduction to the webinar – Aina Eriksson, SEI
• 13:05 – 13:15 Opening words: The impact of Sweden’s consumption
  • Jonas Allerup – Climate Analyst at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
• 13:15 – 13:30 Understanding local government drivers for sustainable consumption – The case of Sweden
  • Focus: Challenges and opportunities of Swedish local governments and recommendations for policy. Karin André, Katarina Axelsson and Elena Dawkins, SEI – Project Unlock, funded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
• 13:30 – 13:45 The Power of Procurement
  • Focus: Strategic procurement decisions for sustainability + Building a supportive political framework for implementation of sustainable public procurement.
  • Liesbeth Casier, Policy Advisor International Institute for Sustainable Development and MAC member of the 10YFP Sustainable Public Procurement Programme
• 13:45 – 14:00 Case study: Sharing initiatives in the City of Vancouver
  • Focus: implementation of sharing initiatives by local governments and scaling up city initiatives through the Lighter Living Initiative
  • Vanessa Timmer, Executive director at One Earth, co-lead of the Beacon for Sustainable Living and MAC member of the 10YFP Sustainable Lifestyles and Education Programme
• 14:00 – 14: 25 Moderated discussion by Jonas Allerup and Q+A from audience
• 14:25 – 14:30 Conclusion

This webinar is a joint collaboration between SEI and the 10YFP Sustainable Lifestyles and Education Programme.