Stakeholders deliberate pathways to shift consumption patterns towards sustainable alternatives

As part of the ongoing World Environment Day celebrations, stakeholders today deliberated the pathways for shifting consumption patterns and lifestyles towards sustainable alternatives during a thematic session.

The thematic session on "Sustainable lifestyle towards Enhancing Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy" was organised jointly by the Environment Ministry and Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

"The session brought together policy-makers, regulators, international organisations, businesses, civil society and academia for a discussion on the pathways and key elements for shifting consumption patterns and lifestyles towards sustainable alternatives," an official statement said.

It said that different policy options for achieving a resource-efficient society with low ecological footprint and better governance mechanisms were discussed during the session.

During the session, the role of technology, success stories from Indian experiences and inclusive policy frameworks with alternatives were also highlighted as important for the shift towards a resource efficient, circular and sustainable economy.

"Awareness generation for all stakeholders was identified as the most critical of all measures. Without an informed appreciation of the challenge and problems associated with high consumption lifestyles and increased plastics waste, the efforts towards achieving a sustainable society would not be effective," the statement said.

The session also attempted to identify policy options for a resource efficient society, good governance, low ecological footprint and highlight pathways for shifting consumption patterns and lifestyles towards more sustainable alternatives.

Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Aruna Sharma, who chaired the session, talked about the idea of waste to wealth, which creates a win-win situation for all and also opined that plastic cannot be banned fully, but its size can be a critical component to maintain and that is why it is important to understand that plastic disposal is a bigger issue.

Delivering the special remarks, Central Pollution Control Board Chairman, S.P S Parihar pointed out that material consumption in India is growing since 2010 and behavioural change is the toughest part. He also gave examples of the Swacch Bharat Mission in Madhya Pradesh where students are visiting households to train the adults.

National Geographic Network representative Ms. Lillygol Sedaghat talked about the best practices in Taiwan, where several steps have been adopted for attaining sustainable livelihood and an efficient waste management policy.