Sustainable Production & Consumption

Background

Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) is about "the use of services and related products, which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as the emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardize the needs of further generations" (Oslo symposium, 1994).

The concept of sustainable consumption and production is recognized in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation adopted in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). It was acknowledged that sustainable consumption and production forms one of the three overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development, together with poverty eradication and the management of natural resources in order to foster economic and social development. It was recognized that fundamental changes in the way societies produce and consume are indispensable for achieving global sustainable development. 

It called for all countries to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, with the developed countries taking the lead and with all countries benefiting from the process, taking into account the Rio principles, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities as set out in Principle 7 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. It also called for governments, relevant international organizations, the private sector and all major groups to play an active role in changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns.

The progress . . . .

In my opinion, to achieve such a 'sustainable' production and consumption MAY be difficult because of certain things. some of them are the lack of support from the developed countries such as United States and some European countries. Well, let's think about it. These nations is fueled by the capitalism doctrine where "the profit is their qiblat while the money is their God". ( i create the quote by myself ^_^). I don't think any of the country would be seriously involved and supported the initiatives to promote the sustainable production and consumption. The US for example, is the huge consumers of EVERYTHING in the world as many of its 330 million population is in the middle and high income level which in turn make desire for everything including foods, clothes, cars, houses and other consumer product skyrocketed.

Have money and your tummy is happy

By this reason alone, it will not be supported by the US government, same case with the Kyoto Protocol which US declined to sign the agreement to reduce the CO2 production just to save their semiconductor industry for the sake of economic benefits. the same things happened with the food production, where the US is the large consumer of wheat, tomatoes, chicken and meats which may practice unsustainable ways of producing those foods for their citizen needs. 

What about the others?

In the end, the poor just get poorer and the richer just get richer. Many developing countries especially live in the African continent tries harder just to make enough food for their people. the situation worsen with the climate change, as the soil is not enough fertilized to grow any crops such as corn and wheat. Many of them also live in poor. which according to UN they earn less that USD 1 per day. many children there die at the young age because of lack of nutrition due to not enough food. while in the western country, they keep consuming everything in the world just as God Himself create this world only for them to consume. at the end of the day, when everything is about to turn around (economic depression, inflation, natural disaster) only then they will know who create them.

"Allah create the world diversely so that we can get to know each other and sharing the resources together"

=)