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SDGs Governance

SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production

The world population is growing at an increased rate – the World Population Prospects of The

United Nations (2019) shows the current world population approximately 7.7 billion at a growth
rate 1.08%, which represents per year around 82 million people. This scenario represents a huge
environmental impact, since the growth of the world population is directly connected to global
energy demands and exploration of natural resources. According to WWF, the standard of living
will decrease by 2030 if the human beings continue on a growth pace depletion of planet’s natural
resources. In order to stop it, there is an urgent need to comprehend and become aware that

fundamental changes in the way societies produce and consume are indispensable for achieving
global sustainable development.
Thereby the importance of goal 12 of the Sustainable Development agenda, which aims to ensure
sustainable consumption and production patterns.

● Facts

• Each year, an estimated one third of all food produced – equivalent to 1.3 billion tons
worth around $1 trillion – ends up rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers, or
spoiling due to poor transportation and harvesting practices.

• If people worldwide switched to energy efficient light bulbs the world would save
US$120 billion annually.

• Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, the equivalent of almost three
planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current
lifestyles.

• Water use has been increasing worldwide by about 1per cent per year since the

1980s.
• 38 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2019.

• Households consume 29 per cent of global energy and consequently contribute to
21 per cent of resultant CO2 emission.

• The food sector accounts for around 30 per cent of the world’s total energy
consumption and accounts for around 22 per cent of total Greenhouse Gas
emissions.

• One in four teachers does not feel ready to teach themes related to these topics.
More effort is needed to ensure that these issues are core components of national
education systems.

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