Who is behind the Hub?

UNEP guides policy development for SCP through its global frameworks, networks, programmes and partnerships, through knowledge-sharing and facilitating access to science, policy guidance, technical tools and best practices.

UNEP contributes to SDG 12.2, “achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources”, by strengthening and communicating the knowledge and scientific base for resource efficiency and SCP. This includes scientific information on natural resource use and “decoupling opportunities” as a basis for evidence-based policymaking.

Additionally, UNEP works on strengthening the sound management of chemicals and waste by supporting parties to the multilateral environmental agreements to meet their respective obligations. This work supports SDG 12.4 ‘achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.’ UNEP also hosts the secretariats for several waste and chemicals-related multilateral environmental agreements and implements initiatives targeting various types of waste, including food waste and hazardous waste and chemicals.

As part of its actions towards SDG 12.6, “Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.”, UNEP collaborates with the private sector in partnerships promoting innovation, technological solutions and financing to tackle our most pressing global environmental challenges. UNEP fosters partnerships with business and industry to promote green investments and apply sustainable business practices across value chains. It also promotes and builds capacity in corporate sustainability reporting.

It has been mandated by the international community to be the multi-stakeholder implementing mechanism for SDG 12, drawing stakeholders together around a common approach and a shared set of objectives. It is an open partnership, and countries including all relevant stakeholders and organisations are invited to join and actively engage.

The One Planet network generates collective impact through its six programmes: Public Procurement, Buildings and Construction, Tourism, Food Systems, Consumer Information, and Lifestyles and Education. The sectoral and thematic programmes of the One Planet network are a constellation of organisations from sectors and regions around the world.

The Panel’s goal is to steer us away from overconsumption, waste and ecological harm to a more prosperous and sustainable future. The IRP investigates the world’s most critical resource issues with a view to supporting all stakeholders to improve resource efficiency - a necessary condition to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. For instance, in 2019 it launched the Global Resources Outlook 2019, which analysed the impacts of our growing resource use, and aimed to develop coherent scenario projections for resource efficiency and sustainable production and consumption that decouple economic growth from environmental degradation.

After UNEA4, the IRP joined forces with the One Planet network and formed a task force dedicated to releasing a report on the Value Chain Approach. The aim of this report is to make sustainable consumption and production more actionable, and provides specific analysis regarding the construction, agri-food and textile sectors.

FAO is the custodian agency of Sub-Indicator 12.3.1a which measures Food Losses through its Food Loss Index (FLI). The FLI measures the changes in percentage losses of a country over time by comparing the percentage losses in the current period to percentage losses in the base year. The index covers the supply stages of food chains, from harvest up to but not including retail. The objective is to show the impact of policy and investment of the efficiency of the supply chain.

FAO collaborates with donors, bi- and multi-lateral agencies, financial institutions and private sector partners to develop and implement programmes on food loss and waste reduction, such as SAVE FOOD: Global Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction. FAO also manages the Food Loss and Waste Database, the largest online collection of data on both food loss and food waste and causes reported throughout literature. This database aims to help monitor the state of food loss, and gathers data and information from almost 500 publications, reports, and studies from organizations like the World Bank, GIZ, FAO, IFPRI, and more.

The BRS Secretariat reports on the indicator 12.4.1 using the following parameters to measure progress made by State Parties in achieving environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes: information that each Party, whatever its national circumstances, has the obligation to transmit to the Secretariat: designated country contacts under each Convention, national implementation plans under the Stockholm Convention, national reports under the Basel and Stockholm conventions and import responses under the Rotterdam Convention.

The phaseout of ozone depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol is an example of ‘environmentally sound management of chemicals’ (SDG 12.4) that has stimulated innovative redesign of products, processes and equipment to use greener chemicals and technologies.

Today, the Montreal Protocol continues to drive the shift towards ‘environmentally sound management of chemicals’ through its Kigali Amendment. Agreed in 2016, the Kigali Amendment introduced controls on high global warming hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)s.

The Montreal Protocol also supports the implementation of SDG 12.3.1.b, which aims to ‘halve per capita global food waste’, through the profound changes in refrigeration and air conditioning that have resulted from the phaseout of ozone depleting substances.

Additionally, the Protocol provides successful practices encouraging shifts to more sustainable practices in companies (SDG 12.6) and individual behaviours (SDG 12.8), and in strengthening science and technology relevant to more sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12.A) by supporting the latest generation of alternative technologies across sectors.

An important aspect of the Minamata Convention’s work on SDG 12.4.1 is the reduction of mercury pollution and mercury-containing wastes. It does so by promoting the introduction alternative products, processes and technologies that are mercury-free, cost-effective and in line with best available technology guidelines.

Among other issues, UNSD works towards establishing strong systems for reporting on progress towards 12.4.2 and 12.5.1. It helps countries better understand how waste and hazardous chemicals are generated, collected and recycled, to guide them and other stakeholders in identifying ways to address key waste streams.

The official UN report on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals is launched in advance of the HLPF deliberations. This report includes an overview of the global progress towards SDG 12 based on its different indicators, which include global, regional and sub regional aggregates. They are calculated from data from national statistical systems, compiled by international agencies, on the basis of their respective mandates and specialized expertise.

UNU is also heavily focused on its Solving the E-waste Problem initiative, which supports both Indicators 12.4.2 and 12.5.1. Electronic waste is one of the world’s largest and most problematic waste streams, accounting for 47 million metric tonnes of toxic garbage each year. This global initiative aims to dramatically reduce e-waste through policy change, product re-design, re-use, and recycling.

Additionally, UNU’s International Satoyama Initiative supports the implementation if SDG 12.3 by supporting the development of resilient agricultural systems that can respond to system shocks from climate change and that prioritize sustainable resource management.

UNCTAD serves as the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting (ISAR), the United Nations focal point on accounting and corporate governance matters. ISAR facilitates the exchange of views and best practices, building consensus, developing guidance documents, and providing technical assistance on issues related to both financial and sustainability/SDG reporting. Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, ISAR focuses on harmonization of companies reporting on their contribution to the SDG implementation.

Additionally, UNCTAD is also part of the Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative.

UNCTAD contributes to the implementation of other SDG12 Targets. For instance, UNCTAD supports the work of the Commission for Science and Technology for Development, which helps strengthen science, technology and innovation for sustainability (SDG 12.a.1). UNCTAD has also studied and proposed tools to encourage the development of sustainable tourism (SDG 12.b.1).

Without access to relevant information, knowledge and the skills necessary to act, individuals will not be able to adapt their behaviours in ways that are necessary to ensure that their lifestyles promote sustainable development and environmental protection. One means by which this can be achieved is through education.

Quality education contributes to reducing waste generation through the introduction and practice of the four 'Rs' - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover. Keeping the public informed and educated is crucial to promote sustainable lifestyles that ensure we live harmony with nature. The scientific and technological capacities, particularly of developing countries, can be strengthened through education efforts, thereby moving towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.

Indicator 12.8.1 measures the extent to which countries mainstream global citizenship education and education for sustainable development in their education systems. This is an indicator of characteristics of different aspects of education systems: education policies, curricula, teacher training and student assessment. It measures what governments intend and not necessarily what is implemented in practice in schools and classrooms.

The data required for the indicator are collected every four years as part of the regular monitoring of the implementation by UNESCO Member States of the 1974 Recommendation concerning Education for International Understanding, Co-operation and Peace, and Education relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

UNWTO co-leads the Sustainable Tourism Programme (STP) of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP). The programme aims to develop SCP practices that result in enhanced economic, social and environmental outcomes and promote sustainability in the tourism sector.

UNWTO recently released the report ‘Baseline Report on the Integration of Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns into Tourism Policies,’, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The report outlines additional ways in which the UNWTO is currently contributing to SDG 12 targets by promoting more sustainable national tourism policies.

For instance, by encouraging tourism policies that address SCP impact areas, UNWTO directly contributes to achieving SDG 12.1 and mainstreaming SCP into national policies. UNWTO also plays a part in promoting tourism policies that contribute to SDG 12.3, given the relevance of gastronomy and food to tourism.

UNWTO helps promote tourism policies can encourage more sustainability reporting by tourism businesses to advance SDG 12.6 and increase information availability on the impacts of tourism.

IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

With a mandate from countries around the world, IRENA encourages governments to adopt enabling policies for renewable energy investments, provides practical tools and policy advice to accelerate renewable energy deployment, and facilitates knowledge sharing and technology transfer to provide clean, sustainable energy for the world’s growing population.