SDG12: Responsible consumption and production
Consumption and production patterns are not currently sustainable: water and land use, greenhouse gases emissions, waste generation and management, as well as of disposal of toxic waste are still having enormous ecological footprints. Achieving this objective requires bold action to halve food waste, to ensure the sound management of chemical waste, to curb wasteful consumption, and to promote green tourism.
Updates
See all
Organizations
Multilateral Environmental Agreements
Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters
Aarhus Convention
Non-Governmental and Business Organizations
Catalytic Finance Foundation
Catalytic Finance Foundation
Multilateral Environmental Agreements
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
CITES
Non-Governmental and Business Organizations
International Institute for Sustainable Development
IISD
Multilateral Environmental Agreements
International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
UPOV
Non-Governmental and Business Organizations
Shamba Centre for Food & Climate
Shamba Centre for Food & Climate
Multilateral Environmental Agreements
UNECE Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context
Espoo Convention and the Protocol on SEA
Thematic Platforms
United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion
United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion
Intergovernmental Organizations
United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries
UN-REDD
Non-Governmental and Business Organizations
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
WBCSD
Experts
Carolyn Deere Birkbeck
Carolyn Deere Birkbeck is a Senior Researcher at the Graduate Institute’s Global Governance Centre and Director of the Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS).
Charlotte Pavageau
Charlotte Pavageau works as an advocacy and policy at Biovision Foundation.
Christophe Bellmann
Christophe Bellmann is the Head of Policy Analysis and Strategy at the Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS).
Delphine Garin
Delphine Garin is the manager of Plastics & Packaging at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Elisa Tonda
Elisa Tonda is the Chief of the Resources and Markets Branch at the UN Environment Programme, effective 1 September 2022.
Ivo Mulder
Climate Finance Unit Head, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Jacqueline Alvarez
Jacqueline Alvarez is the Chief of the UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch.
João Sousa
João Sousa is the Senior Programme Officer, Blue Natural Capital, at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Joy Kim
Joy Kim is Programme Officer at UNEP's Economic Research Unit.
Katherine Urbáez
Katherine Urbáez is the Founder and Executive Director of the Health Diplomacy Alliance.
Kay Williams
Kay Williams is the Head of the Global Framework on Chemicals.
Liesbeth Casier
Liesbeth Casier is a Lead, Public Procurement and Sustainable Infrastructure and Coordinator of the NBI Global Resource Centre at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
Matthias Knappe
Matthias Knappe is the Head of Fibres in the Textiles and Clothing Unit at the International Trade Center (ITC).
Mickaël Repellin
Mickaël Repellin is the Co-founder and Secretary General of PIRSE-IEHRI, attorney and researcher in international environmental and health law.
Nick Weatherill
Nick Weatherill is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Better Cotton.
Noelia Garcia Nebra
Noelia Garcia Nebra is Head of sustainability at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Peter Bakker
Peter Bakker is the President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Sandra Avérous-Monnery
Sandra Avérous-Monnery is seconded to the World Trade Organization as Economic Officer.
Teresa Moreira
Teresa Moreira is the Head of the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).Events
Info Session
Advance Information Session for the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents
20 Oct 2026 | 11:00 – 12:30
Palais des Nations | Room H-207-208-209 & Online | Teams
UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents
Info Session
Briefing for National Focal Points and other stakeholders of the Espoo Convention and its Protocol on SEA on the forthcoming sessions of the Meetings of the Parties
20 Oct 2026 | 11:00 – 12:30
Palais des Nations | Room H.376 & Online | Teams
Espoo Convention and the Protocol on SEA
Press Conference
Press Conference: Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
20 Oct 2026 | 14:30
Palais des Nations | Press Room & Online | UN WebTV
CITES
Conference
PFAS – The Forever Pollution Project
21 Oct 2026 | 12:15 – 14:00
University of Lausanne | Amphimax, 410
Unil
Virtual
Beyond Extraction: Country Pathways for Responsible Value Creation, Circularity and Sustainable Development
21 Oct 2026 | 14:00 – 15:30
Online | Zoom
UNECE
Body Meeting
17th Session of the Multi-year Expert Meeting on Commodities and Development
22 – 23 Oct 2026
Palais des Nations | Council Chamber
UNCTAD
Body Meeting
3rd meeting of the Informal Task Force on the implementation of the San Marino Regional Urban Forestry Action Plan
22 Oct 2026 | 14:30 – 15:30
Online
UNECE
Body Meeting
Meeting of the Joint Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents
26 Oct 2026 | 13:00 – 15:00
Online
Water Convention, UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents
Conference
Road to the First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals | Investing for Impact for a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste
27 Oct 2026 | 14:00 – 15:30
International Environment House I, Room 2 & Online | Webex
GFC, GEN
Conference
Discussion à huis clos sur les minéraux critiques
29 Oct 2026 | 17:30 – 19:30
Villa Barton
Geneva Press Club
Body Meeting
9th meeting of the small intersessional working group on technical guidelines on persistent organic pollutants as wastes
31 Oct – 02 Nov 2026
International Environment House II
BRS
Body Meeting
4th meeting of the small intersessional working group on waste batteries technical guidelines
03 – 06 Nov 2026
International Environment House II
BRS
Conference
Global Supply Chains Forum: Advancing Circular and Chemical-Safe Supply Chains in Fashion and Construction
12 – 13 Nov 2026
Palais des Nations | Room VII
UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch, GEF, UNDP, UNIDO, FAO
Body Meeting
First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals
16 – 20 Nov 2026
CICG
GFC
Body Meeting
Joint Bureau Meeting of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
23 – 24 Nov 2026
Geneva
BRS
Conference
2026 AMR Awareness Week Event
24 Nov 2026 | 10:30 – 12:00
Palais des Nations| Room S-29 & Online | Webex
UNEP, Health Diplomacy Alliance, GEN
Virtual
Addressing the supply and trade of mercury not in compliance with the Convention | Minamata Online
24 Nov 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00
Online | Webex
Minamata Convention
Virtual
Review of Implementation of Article 7 on Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining | Minamata Online
26 Nov 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00
Online | Webex
Minamata Convention
Body Meeting
12th meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Protocol on PRTRs
30 Nov – 01 Dec 2026
Palais des Nations | Room V
UNECE
Virtual
Towards a Mercury-Free Dentistry | Minamata Online
01 Dec 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00
Online | Webex
Minamata Convention
Virtual
Financing mercury action: GEF, SIP and country experiences | Minamata Online
03 Dec 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00
Online | Webex
Minamata Convention
Workshop
Global seminar on the Safe and Secure Management of Hazardous Chemicals: Strengthening Policy and Governance to Prevent and Mitigate Industrial Accidents
08 Dec 2026 | 10:00 – 17:00
Palais des Nations | Room XVI
UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents
Body Meeting
Ninth meeting of the Implementation and Compliance Committee
26 – 28 Jan 2027
International Environment House
Minamata Convention
Body Meeting
17th meeting of the Basel Convention Implementation and Compliance Committee (ICC-17)
22 – 26 Feb 2027
International Environment House II
BRS
Body Meeting
Regional preparatory meetings for the 2027 COPs for Eastern Europe Region
01 – 03 Mar 2027
International Environment House
BRS
Body Meeting
Seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-7)
06 – 10 Sep 2027
Minamata Convention
Learning
Course in Geneva
United Nations Chemicals and Waste Management Study Programme
09 – 13 Nov 2026
Geneva
UNITAR
Online Course
Introductory Course on the International Legal Framework on Transboundary Air Pollution
InforMEA
Online Course
Introductory Course to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
InforMEA
Online Course
Green Industrial Policy: Promoting Competitiveness and Structural Transformation
UNEP, UNITAR, UNIDO, PAGE, UN CC:Learn
Publications
Report
Sand and Sustainability: An Essential Resource for Nature and Development
2026
UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Report
Priority actions towards breathing clean air, protecting public health and ensuring a healthy environment
2026
Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council
Report
Guidelines on access to justice and effective remedies in the context of toxics
2025
Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council
Policy Brief
Analysis of Governments’ Authority to Mitigate Micro- and Nanoplastic Releases to Inform the Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations
2024
University of Wollongong, Minderoo Foundation
Policy Brief
A global plastics treaty and biodiversity: converging or conflicting regimes?
2024
IUCN
Report
Climate Impacts of Plastics: Global Actions to Stem Climate Change and End Plastic Pollution
2024
GRID-Arendal
Report
Strengthening collaboration and coordination between biodiversity and chemicals and waste clusters
2022
Nordic Council of Ministers
Report
Interlinkages between the chemicals and waste multilateral environmental agreements and biodiversity: Key Insights
2021
BRS, Minamata Convention
Report
An Assessment of Options for Strengthening the Science-Policy Interface at the International Level for the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste
2020
UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch
Report
Sand and Sustainability: Finding new solutions for environmental governance of global sand resources
2019
UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Jobs
Intern
Sustainable Fiscal Policy and Public Finance Intern
24 Oct 2026
UNEP Industry Innovation Branch