5 June 2015: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a guidebook, titled ‘Sustainable Consumption and Production: A Handbook for Policy Makers,’ on the impacts of unsustainable consumption and production, and efficiency gains to be made by mainstreaming sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns.

The guidebook is UNEP’s contribution to the implementation of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on SCP (10YFP), which was formed in response to the recommendations of the Rio+20 Summit. Launched on the occasion of World Environment Day (WED) in Milano, Italy, on 5 June 2015 by Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, and Gian Luca Galletti, Italy’s Minister of the Environment, the report outlines the means to achieving energy efficiency gains. According to the publication, policy makers can make it easier and cheaper to produce goods and services more efficiently by integrating SCP patterns into development planning and implementation.

“UNEP’s Handbook provides practical yet far reaching proposals to promote prosperous economies and a healthy planet for generations to come,” Steiner stated, emphasizing the need for decoupling economic growth from resource consumption and from environmental impacts.

The handbook contains a compilation of SCP case studies from across the world, covering policy instruments, implementation processes, monitoring and evaluation methodologies, and indicators. The report aims to help policymakers and other institutional stakeholders to integrate the concept of SCP into national development planning and create solutions for sustainable development challenges. [UNEP Press Release] [IISD RS Story on World Environment Day 2015] [Publication: Sustainable Consumption and Production: A Handbook for Policy Makers]