Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Why it matters: Humanity urgently needs to reduce our ecological footprint by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources. For example, did you know that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year, while almost 2 billion people go hungry or undernourished? The efficient management of our shared natural resources such as food and water, and the way we dispose of toxic waste and pollutants, must be changed if we are to achieve the targets set out in this goal.

Target 12.1: Implement the 10-year sustainable consumption and production framework

Implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries.

Target 12.2: Sustainable management and use of natural resources

By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

Target 12.3: Halve global per capita food waste

By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.

Target 12.4: Responsible management of chemicals and waste

By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimise their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation

By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

Target 12.6: Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and sustainability reporting

Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

Target 12.7: Promote sustainable public procurement practices

Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Target 12.8: Promote universal understanding of sustainable lifestyles

By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.

Target 12A: Support developing countries'scientific and technological capacity for sustainable consumption and production

Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.

Target 12B: Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable tourism

Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.

Target 12C: Remove market distortions that encourage wasteful consumption

Rationalise inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimising the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities.