A major driver for the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is the current unsustainable production and consumption patterns by humans: the prevalence of a “take-make-waste” and “grow now, clean-up later” mentality in which populations have thrived at the expense of the environment and its ability to regenerate. According to the Circularity Gap Report 2023, due to increasing material extraction, 93% of materials are either wasted, lost, or unavailable for reuse, with only 7.2% of material recycled back into the economy. The International Labour Organization predicts the social and economic risks associated with natural resource depletion, ecosystems loss, and linear economic approaches can lead to the loss of 1.2 billion jobs, representing 40% of total world employment, most of which are in Africa and Asia and the Pacific.

The 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Patterns (10YFP), adopted in 2012 by 193 Heads of State as part of the Rio+20 outcome document, is a universal framework to accelerate the shift to SCP at the regional and national levels. Implementing the 10YFP is part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the first target of the Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12). The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a decision in December 2021 to extend the mandate of the 10YFP until 2030. The decision enabled the organization of an inclusive consultative process, under the leadership of the 10YFP Intergovernmental Board, to develop a Global Strategy for Sustainable Consumption and Production (2023-2030). The entity that was established to ensure implementation of the 10YFP is the One Planet Network, a global community of practitioners, policymakers and experts, comprising thousands of individual members divided into six thematic programmes. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) serves as the Secretariat and facilitates the One Planet Network.

The 10YFP Board and SCP Partners meeting will be held in the context of the sixth biennial UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), and will contribute to the theme of “Effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions against climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.” In a series of five thematic sessions, the one-day meeting will serve as a platform for highlighting experiences in the implementation of SCP and circular economy approaches, tools, and/or initiatives developed by the 10YFP and its partners in the framework of the Global Strategy for Sustainable Consumption and Production (2022-2030) and the Results Framework and Budget (2023-2024).

The five sessions will consider ways to:

• foster a global movement and commitments for action on SCP and allow participants to exchange views on the proposed theme for the first meeting of the Global Dialogue expected to take place in September 2024;
• leverage digital standards and tools for SCP;
• mobilize business commitments to implement SCP and a circular economy, and measure progress through a Global Circularity Protocol for Business;
• accelerate actions towards the implementation of food systems transformation targets;
• promote scientific and data-driven approaches to promote SCP: closing the SDG data gap and accelerating the implementation of the circular economy.

The 10YFP Intergovernmental Board and its SCP Partners will meet on 24 February 2024 at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants who wish to attend the meeting virtually, are encouraged to register for the meeting here.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writer for this meeting is Suzi Malan, Ph.D. The Digital Editors are Ángeles Estrada and Diego Noguera. The Editor is Leila Mead.

Funding for ENB coverage of this event is provided by the One Planet Network.