Linking Knowledge and action for Sustainable Production and Consumption Systems

An International Dialogue on Science and Practice in Sustainable Development, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 24-26 January 2007

The dialogue aims to foster effective collaborations between scientists and practitioners to advance the practice of sustainable development, through knowledge sharing and promoting national, regional, and international actions and implementation.

The SPACES Dialogue on "Linking knowledge and action for sustainable production and consumption systems" will take place on 24-26 January 2007 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. On the 23rd and 27th January the international SPACES working group will meet.

Background

The notion that the pursuit of sustainability will require changes to both production and consumption practices rightly pervades much of the national and international discussions on trade, development and the environment. Sustainable consumption was promoted as part of Agenda 21 following the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. A decade later discussions around the way globalization has unfolded and their implications for achieving social justice, as for example articulated in the Millennium Development Goals, underline the multiple facets of the challenge. On the one hand, the observant see wasteful over-consumption in a warming world driven by unscrupulous advertising leaving many in the developed world working harder than ever to pay of credit card debts. 

On the other, vast numbers of people remain in poverty as victims of under-consumption. Even where national economies are growing in the developing world gains are paid for with natural resources and the health burdens of under-regulated production processes facilitated by a trade system which is neither free nor fair.

Making real progress on transforming the sustainability of production and consumption systems is perhaps the challenge of this millennium. It is hard for several reasons. First, the technical requirements for understanding and applying the idea of production-consumption systems have not been clearly articulated making it hard to establish clear targets and measures of success. Second, the value of adopting a ‘sustainable consumption and production’ perspective as distinct ‘from’ a more generic one of sustainable development has not been sufficiently demonstrated so the political commitment remains modest. Third, even where the value of a more systems-oriented approach is acknowledged insufficient practical guidance has emerged on how strong political and social barriers to sustainable production-consumption systems could be overcome.

The SPACES group is convinced that there is already a significant body of research-based and practical knowledge that could be brought to bear on these challenges, but which for various reasons have so far not informed action. On the other hand, we also believe that several actions underway today, for example, in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals, have not yet had the influence on research agendas that they should have.

Purpose of the Dialogue

This SPACES Dialogue aims to foster and increase effective collaborations between scientists and practitioners to advance research and action agendas pursuing sustainability of production and consumption systems. This will be done by featuring innovative examples of what has worked, critical analyses of what has not, and structured discussions to compare and analyze experiences from around the world.

Output

The expected outcome of the Dialogue is a refined Research and Action Plan on Sustainable Production And Consumption Systems. The plan would make suggestions on how to strengthen existing networks of collaboration between science and practice, create new alliances and showcase examples of good practice. The goal is to ensure that science-based knowledge contributes to policy insight and implementation of measures towards achieving sustainable development.

Input

A set of empirical case studies has been prepared over the past year as background to this workshop as well as two review papers. Copies of the review papers will be made available prior to the workshop for those interested. In addition a very preliminary draft research and action plan will be distributed as a summary of these experiences and starting point for the workshop.

All participants are also encourage to send in short briefing notes (maximum 2 pages) summarizing their take on items in the agenda. Panelists are strongly encouraged to do this as background to their talks rather than preparing power-point presentations. Individuals who have prepared longer case study papers are encouraged to submit briefing notes summarizing their case studies.

The set of briefs and draft research & action plan will be distributed in hard copy on check-in to the hotel. A compilation of those received beforehand will also be sent out electronically on the 20^th January.   Participants are encouraged to read these summaries before the start of the meeting.

Program

The Dialogue event is structured around a combination of round-table facilitated discussions and broader plenaries. Taken together the program should provide all participants excellent opportunities for in-depth discussions.

Dialogue SPACES

Four half-day sector-oriented discussion sessions are planned on: Agricultural Commodity Chains, Innovation and Manufactured Goods, Sustainable Tourism and Energy, Goods and Services For the home. In these half-day sessions practitioners, regulators, consumer representatives and researchers will explore challenges in linking knowledge with action through exploring case studies and more general experiences. These will be in facilitated round-table format with only short presentations from panelists to illustrate issues through specific case studies or present relevant review findings. A set of guiding questions for each of the groups is being developed to help start and provide an initial framework for deliberations. The key output expected from each of the four dialogues is an initial of recommended revisions and additions to the Research and Action Plan. Other important messages to share with others could also be included.

Plenaries

The plenary sessions will, at the beginning, help set the scene by giving some alternative perspectives on the key issues for consideration at the workshop, and towards the end, help with synthesis across the sector-oriented discussion sessions.

Participants

A diverse mix of participants have been invited including: (1) researchers working in government and non-governmental organizations; (2) decision-makers from governments, business and industry; (3) and other interested people. Participation is by invitation, but justified expressions of interest will be considered. Please write to the organizers.

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