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DTSTART:20220315T120000Z
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TRANSP:OPAQUE
DTEND:20220315T133000Z
LOCATION:Online\, 
SUMMARY:World Consumer Rights Day: Empowering consumers for sustainable con
 sumption
CLASS:PUBLIC
DESCRIPTION:UNCTAD marks World Consumer Rights Day by convening a discussio
 n on how to meet present and future generations’ needs for goods and ser
 vices in ways that are economically\, socially and environmentally sustain
 able for all.Helping consumers make more sustainable choices requires impr
 oved information sharing and awareness campaigns so that people understand
  better the impact their consumption has on the environment.Ultimately\, t
 o make better choices consumers must be able to easily identify environmen
 tally sound products through informative labelling and trusted environment
 al seals or guidelines\, such as those that follow UNCTAD BioTrade’s Pr
 inciples and Criteria.In some instances\, however\, regulation will also b
 e necessary to ensure sustainable consumption\, such as the ban of single-
 use plastic in Kenya and the European Union.Everyone must be involvedSusta
 inable consumption and production require doing more and better with less.
  This means using and managing resources more efficiently and reducing env
 ironmental degradation\, waste and pollution along the whole life cycle\, 
 while increasing the quality of life\, creating green jobs and opportuniti
 es for developing countries to leapfrog development stages.The United Nat
 ions Guidelines for Consumer Protection call for the participation of all
  stakeholders in bringing about sustainable consumption.Governments\, busi
 nesses\, consumer associations and environmental organizations must all pl
 ay their part in enhancing consumer knowledge and informing consumer choic
 e. For this\, there is a need to combine all instruments and tools at hand
 \, be they regulatory mechanisms\, standards or business initiatives.Consu
 mer protection laws may not always include specific provisions on sustaina
 ble consumption\, but consumer protection agencies can promote consumer ed
 ucation and provide guidance to businesses.Business initiatives – volunt
 ary standards\, codes of conduct and self-regulatory initiatives – shoul
 d equally be developed or strengthened and supported. Moreover\, businesse
 s should develop new sustainable production patterns and use alternative m
 aterials in a way that facilitates green consumer choices.To better inform
  policymaking\, the guidelines also advocate for research\, methodologies 
 and data collection\, especially work that is oriented towards improving t
 he sustainability of products and services from design to recycling.Meetin
 g objectivesUnder this scenario\, UNCTAD will organize a panel session bri
 nging together policymakers\, businesses and consumer groups to share expe
 riences in fostering sustainable production and consumption and promoting 
 responsible behaviour by businesses and consumers.In particular\, the even
 t will:Increase information and knowledge as to the current state of susta
 inable consumption and what is needed going forwardIncrease awareness amon
 g policymakers about the policy options to enhance sustainable consumption
 Issues that will be covered include:Providing examples of successful infor
 mation and education campaigns to raise awareness among consumersPresentin
 g challenges and opportunities from a regulatory perspective\, including o
 n the avenues for incorporating sustainability into consumer policyShowcas
 ing examples of certification\, standards and labelling that enhance susta
 inable consumptionHighlighting the need for a multi-pronged\, multi-stakeh
 older approach to ensure consumer engagementSpeakersOpeningMs. Rebeca Gryn
 span\, UNCTAD Secretary-GeneralModeratorMs. Teresa Moreira\, Head\, Compet
 ition and Consumer Policies Branch\, UNCTADPanelistsMs. Elisabeth Tuerk\, 
 Director\, Economic Cooperation and Trade\, UNECEMs. Dana Kissinger‐Matr
 ay\, Technical and Policy\, Consumer Matters (COPOLCO)\, International Sta
 ndards Organization SecretariatDr. Laura Best\, Deputy Chairperson\, Consu
 mer Protection Tribunal of South AfricaMs. Lara Koritzke\, Communications 
 and Marketing Director\, Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) https://unctad
 .org/es/node/2833#:~:text=The%20United%20Nations%20Guidelines%20for\,formu
 lating%20and%20enforcing%20domestic%20and\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nh
 ttps://unctad.org/meeting/world-consumer-rights-day-empowering-consumers-s
 ustainable-consumption
DTSTAMP:20260716T155837Z
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