UNEP 2010 Report “Accessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production”

In Jun 2010, UNEP (UN Environment Program) published a report ““Accessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production: Priority, Product and Materials”.

The report studies how our consumption patterns impacts the Environment. The UN panel gathered many scientists to provide science-based assessments of how products, materials and economic and lifestyle activities, impacts the planet. It is the first global assessment to determine which type of consumption activities have the biggest impact on the environment.

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Summary of UNEP Jun 2010 report:

· Two broad areas are currently having a disproportionately high impact on people and the planet’s life support systems-these are 1) Energy in the form of fossil fuels and 2) Agriculture, especially the raising of livestock for meat and dairy products.

· A doubling of wealth leads to a 60% to 80% increase in CO2 emissions. (In emerging economies, increase in CO2 emissions are even higher.)

· Rising affluence had triggered a shift in diets towards meat and dairy products- livestock now consumes much of the world’s crops and by inference a great deal of freshwater, fertilizers and pesticides linked with that crop production in the first place

· Agricultural goods, particularly products from animals, which are fed more than half of all world crops, have a huge impact on the planet. Agricultural production accounts for 70% of the global freshwater consumption and 38% of the total land use. Food production accounts for 19% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and 60% of the phosphorus and nitrogen pollution and 30% of toxic pollution in Europe

· In most countries, household consumption, over the life cycle of the products and services, accounts for more than 60% of all impacts of consumption.

The report recommends the following:

· “Decoupling growth from environmental degradation is the number one challenge facing governments. “ However, the report shows that this decoupling is not happening, and it will not happen in the future without strong policy interventions.

· “A Substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change away from animal products.” The report calls for a significant shift in diets away from animal based proteins towards more vegetable-based foods in order to dramatically reduce pressures on the environment.

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The following is a youtube video on the UNEP report:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB3kfaomWs0

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News article on the UN Report:

The Guardian: UN urges global move to meat and dairy-free diet: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/02/un-report-meat-free-diet

The Telegraph: Eat less meat to save the planet – UN http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7797594/Eat-less-meat-to-save-the-planet-UN.html

UNEP “Accessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production: Priority, Product and Materials”Full report (112 pgs) : http://www.unep.fr/scp/publications/details.asp?id=DTI%2F1262%2FPA

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The report shows that globally, we (as consumers) should adopt a diet change, away from animal products, to reduce our impact on the environment.

As a first step, we can start by adopting some meatless days to help the planet: www.veggiethursday.sg http://www.meatfreemondays.co.uk/

On non-meatless days, it’s advisable to follow US new Food Pyramid “My Plate” when eating meals. [“My Plate” shows that a meal should consist of 1/4 vegetables, 1/4 fruits, 1/4 grains & 1/4 protein. US government is promoting this diet to reduce obesity and return health to the US citizens. Check it out at http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ ]

Let’s do all we can to help the planet.
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