Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Everyone must have information and knowledge about the consequences of private and public consumption and production. Food losses in supply chains and food waste must be reduced. Waste must be handled responsibly, first and foremost by preventing the production of waste, but also by reusing and recycling larger quantities. Natural resources must be managed sustainably and utilized effectively to reduce impacts on the environment and society.

In line with a growing global consumer market and trade patterns that have benefited the country in many respects, challenges have also arisen that we must become better at dealing with. In Greenland and abroad, there is therefore an increasing focus on circular economy and increased recycling. At the same time, the development that on one hand have benefited the global community have on the other harmed our nature and will get worse if we do not change our consumption patterns.

At the same time, ever-increasing amounts of waste drift with the ocean currents to the Arctic, where it degrades our environment - especially at sea and along the coasts. It is our responsibility to ensure that waste is managed safely and without risk to the environment, wildlife and the population. Imports of products of all kinds are steadily increasing in today's Greenland, and there is room for improvement when it comes to acting responsibly in our consumption.

If we really want to do something to ensure a sustainable future, it is especially our consumption and production that we need to change. Mankind's resource consumption is enormous, but much of the consumption is actually completely unnecessary. About a third of all the world's food ends up as garbage. Conversely, this means that there is a huge opportunity here if we start to see the wasted food as a resource that can be used better. World Goal 12 aims, among other things, to halve global food waste by 2030.

Our planet has provided us with an abundance of natural resources. But we have not utilized them responsibly and we currently consume far beyond what our planet can provide. We must learn how to use and produce in sustainable ways that will reverse the harm that we have inflicted on the planet.

News

Every day, people are taking action to make sure this Global Goals is met. See what’s been going on below.

The targets

Everyone can help to make sure that we meet the Global Goals. Use these eleven targets to create action for responsible consumption and production.

Target 12.1 – Implement the 10-Year Sustainable Consumption and Production Framework

Implement the 10‑Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries.

Target 12.2 – Sustainable Management and Use of Natural Resources

By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

Target 12.3 – Halve Global Per Capita Food Waste

By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.

Target 12.4 – Responsible Management of Chemicals and Waste

By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

Target 12.5 – Substantially Reduce Waste Generation

By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

Target 12.6 – Encourage Companies to Adopt Sustainable Practices and Sustainability Reporting

Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

Target 12.7 – Promote Sustainable Public Procurement Practices

Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Target 12.8 – Promote Universal Understanding of Sustainable Lifestyles

By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.

Target 12.a – Support Developing Countries' Scientific and Technological Capacity for Sustainable Consumption and Production

Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.

Target 12.b – Develop and Implement Tools to Monitor Sustainable Tourism

Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.

Target 12.c – Remove Market Distortions that Encourage Wasteful Consumption

Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities.

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