Sustainable development indicators in your pocket 2007

An update of the UK Government's sustainable development indicators

Indicators are integral to the communication of sustainable development. They help review progress, they highlight where the challenges are, and they help people to understand what sustainable development means globally, nationally, locally and for them as individuals.

A new set of national indicators were outlined in the UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy, Securing the future, launched by the Prime Minister in March 2005. A baseline assessment of all the indicators, for which data were available, was published in June 2005.

On 27 July 2007 an update of the national indicators was published both as a free pocket booklet Sustainable development indicators in your pocket 2007 and here on the sustainable development website.

Indicators at international, regional and local levels have also been established.

As well as raising awareness the indicators are crucial to policy monitoring and can be used both to monitor specific issues and to create overviews of progress for broad priority areas.

Tipping Point Or Turning Point? Social Marketing & Climate Change

"Everest ice forest is melting" (Guardian, 30 May 2007); "Extreme weather: forecasters warn of more to come" (Independent, 01 July 2007); "Climate change blamed for rise in asthma and hay fever" (Times, 13 May 2007); "The next few years are critical in the fight for the climate" (Telegraph, 4 February 2007); "Pay up … or the planet gets it" (Sun, 30 October 2006); "British armies must ready for global warming" (Mirror, 25 June 2007).

On the subject of climate change the public find themselves in a different world to that of only a few years ago. Barely a day goes by without a media headline telling us of the possible impacts. In the high street we are confronted by more and more sustainable choices — HSBC is suddenly a green Bank; Marks & Spencer has its Plan A; Ikea doesn't give free plastic bags. At the ballot box David Cameron wants us to "Vote Blue: Go Green". On the big screen we don't see Arnold Schwarzenegger these days because he's focusing his efforts instigating the US's flagship low carbon policy. We can, however, see Al Gore who, when not directing Oscar-winning documentaries on climate change, is organising rock concerts and giving Bob and Bono a run for their money.

It is tempting to think we've made it. NGOs are convinced, politicians persuaded, business on board, and the media is covering it all. Surely then, the debate is over. In the face of a dangerous climatic tipping point, we stand on the verge of a behavioural turning point. Or do we?

This report focuses on the perspectives of the public — the way they think and behave in relation to climate change, as well as their values and aspirations. What signs are there already of a transition to low carbon lifestyles? And how far are we really willing to go? Drawing on recent Ipsos MORI research and that of others, it sets out to establish the prospects for effective behaviour change policy and the role that social marketing could play as part of the mix.

Consummer and Climate Change

The What Assures Consumers? project

Can the right purchasing choices tackle climate change?

Consumers International has teamed up with AccountAbility to assess the attitudes of US and UK consumers towards climate change.

The What Assures Consumers? project canvassed 2,734 people in the two countries in March 2007.

Together with an online survey, we conducted interviews with US and UK consumers; case interviews with businesses, lobbyists, civil society and public sector officials.

The study revealed some startling facts:



Only 10% of consumers trust what companies and government tell them about global warming

Corporate and government efforts to inform consumers on climate change are falling on deaf ears, with barely one in ten people in the UK and US believing what they say on the issue. Our research findings show that consumers have little faith in celebrities and the media to provide information on climate change, and would rather seek advice from friends and family, environmental groups and scientists.

Many consumers feel unable to change their purchasing habits

Our study reveals that 75% of consumers, although concerned about how their consumption effects climate change, feel paralysed to act beyond small changes around the home (such as turning off stand-by modes and converting to energy-efficient lightbulbs).

The research indicates this is due to a lack of understanding about what individuals can do; concerns over the financial cost of acting; a perceived lack of availability; and a mistrust of corporate claims about energy efficient products and services.

Tellingly, over half (51.5%) believe governments should be forcing businesses to remove products that are most damaging to global warming, and 70% want claims about climate change by corporations to be independently verified.

What needs to be done

The report goes on to recommend how, by working together with civil society organisations, governments and corporations can still persuade consumers that they can make a positive difference on climate change. Immediate actions should include:

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Leading by example: National, political and cultural figures need to act as green role models, to assure consumers they can and should take action.
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Strengthening of standards: Product labels and indicators about climate change must be clear, comprehensive and independently verified if consumers are to trust the claims being made by businesses.
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Reducing unhelpful choice: Choice reduction policies should be developed for all high impact consumer products and services where viable alternatives exist.
* Establishing individual rights and responsibilities: Widespread agreement on what constitutes a sustainable lifestyle must be legislated for by 2015. Personal carbon allowances must be considered as a key policy tool for achieving this.


Bookmark

Bookmark and revisit www.consumersinternational.org/climate to get more detailed information shortly.

Related material

* ‘Greenwash on climate change is alive and well’ - new study reveals widespread consumer mistrust- press release 18 June 2007
* Consumers want tougher action on products that cause climate change - press release: 20 April 2007
* Interim findings
* Industry as a partner for sustainable development: Supply chain management in a globalising world (Presentation by Richard Lloyd: UN Headquarters, 7 May 2007)

Study warns against biodiesel fuels

MENLO PARK, Calif., April 23 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say biodiesel fuel won't drive down global warming and it might increase rather than reduce greenhouse emissions.

The researchers at California's SRI Consulting -- an international business research service for the chemical industry -- determined the use of biodiesel fuels will not make any difference to global warming and could result in greater emissions of greenhouse gases than from conventional petroleum diesel.

Analysts compared the emissions of greenhouse gases by the two fuels across their overall life cycles from production to combustion in cars. The results, said the scientists, show biodiesel derived from rapeseed grown on dedicated farmland emits nearly the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as does conventional diesel.

However, if the land used to grow rapeseed was instead used to grow trees, petroleum diesel would emit only a third of the CO2 equivalent emissions as biodiesel.

Petroleum diesel emits 85 percent of its greenhouse gases when burned in an engine. By contrast, the researchers said two-thirds of the emissions produced by rapeseed derived biodiesel occur during farming, when the cropland emits nitrous oxide that's up to 300 times as potent as CO2.

The study appears in the journal Chemistry & Industry.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.