SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION (SCP) Targets and Indicators and the SDGs

The document argues that shifting to sustainable consumption and production (SCP) is essential for global sustainable development and proposes a comprehensive set of science-based targets and indicators. It examines the role of SCP as either a stand-alone goal or a cross-cutting issue, emphasizing the need to decouple economic growth from resource use and environmental degradation. The paper provides specific quantitative targets across various sectors, including agriculture, water, energy, and urban construction, while highlighting the differentiated responsibilities of developed and developing nations.

• The document argues that a stand-alone goal for SCP is justified because several economic sectors, such as mining and tourism, and the critical issue of waste management, cannot be easily integrated into other proposed goals.
• To achieve absolute decoupling of economic growth from resource use, the paper proposes a target for average material intensity of consumption per capita of 10.5 tons by 2030 and between 8 to 10 tons by 2050.
• The paper recommends a target to reduce food loss along the supply chain and waste at the consumption stage by 50 per cent by 2030, noting that approximately 25 per cent of total produced food is currently lost.
• For the energy sector, the document proposes doubling the share of global energy generated from clean, sustainable resources by 2030 and ensuring universal access to modern energy services.
• The paper suggests a target to limit global cropland to 0.2 hectares per capita to secure human nutrition and prevent further biodiversity loss.
• In the building and construction sector, the document proposes a 50% reduction in energy-related CO2 emissions by 2030 through more efficient design and increased use of recycled materials.
• The document identifies a need to halve the acceleration of urban sprawl relative to population increase by 2030 to avoid inefficient urban configurations and infrastructural lock-in.
• The paper proposes increasing end-of-life recycling rates for ferrous, non-ferrous, and precious metals to close to 100% and speciality metals to above 25% by 2050.
• The document emphasizes that developed countries should take the lead in the transformation to SCP as they are the largest per capita consumers.
• The paper suggests that by 2030, all public procurement should follow sustainable development guidelines to leverage government demand for sustainable production.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2014). SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION (SCP) Targets and Indicators and the SDGs. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/scp_targets_indicators_unep.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION (SCP) Targets and Indicators and the SDGs. 2014. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/scp_targets_indicators_unep.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION (SCP) Targets and Indicators and the SDGs |date=2014 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/scp_targets_indicators_unep.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2014sustainable, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION (SCP) Targets and Indicators and the SDGs}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2014}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/scp_targets_indicators_unep.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }