Sustainable Production and Consumption – from a Global Perspective

The organization of consumption and production is a global challenge, which urgently needs to be addressed. How could we achieve a transition to sustainable consumption and production patterns? If everyone on the planet consumed as much as the average Swede, 4 Earths would be needed to sustain the consumption. Even if overall carbon emissions within Swedish borders are decreasing, the consumption-based emission have been more or less the same since 2008. Increased levels of consumption in the West impacts the so-called Global South on multiple levels, since a high share of the production is situated there and raises questions in all three pillars of sustainability – the social, economic and ecologic. The garment industry stands for a higher share of carbon emissions than the aviation and shipping industries combined. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable nations to the impact of climate change, at the same time as garment exports stands for almost 12 percent of its GDP and is the world's second largest apparel exporter of western fashion brands. How can we shift to a fair sustainable consumption and production? What challenges are Bangladesh facing in the intersect between growth, development and prosperity, in the light of the Sustainable Development Goals? Speakers: Sanjida Shamsher Elora, Researcher, Swedwatch Alexander Sjöberg, Senior Policy Advisor Sustainable Consumption, Naturskyddsföreningen (the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation) Moderator: Stephanie Esk, Programme Manager, the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) In cooperation with the Museum of World Culture. The seminar was enabled by the financial support of SIDA through Forum Syd.