Javadekar on sustainable consumption patterns

Says while world average per capita energy consumption stands at 1.8 tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) that of OECD countries is 4.28 toe

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said developed countries will have to take a lead in sustainable consumption of resources.

Speaking at the first UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Javadekar said, “…Unsustainable and wasteful consumption patterns in developed countries make it imperative for them to take a lead to shift towards sustainable consumption and production patterns.”

Javadekar pointed out the broad variation in the energy consumption of developed and developing countries. He said while the world average per capita energy consumption stands at 1.8 tonne of oil equivalent (toe), that of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries (mostly comprising of the developed countries) was 4.28 toe. In comparison, India’s consumption was merely 0.6 toe, the Union minister said.

Javadekar stressed post-harvest losses in developing countries was not the reason behind food waste across the globe.

"1.3 billion tonnes of food produced is wasted every year, amounting to over one-third of all food produced. The wastage of food at consumer level alone in industrialized countries is nearly as much as the total food production in sub-Saharan Africa. Food waste has been often clubbed with the issue of post-harvest losses in developing countries, which is a flawed approach," Javadekar said.

Javadekar urged the developed nations for additional and predictable funding to developing countries for poverty eradication.

"The developed countries need to not only urgently fulfill their commitment to provide 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) as official development assistance (ODA) for developing countries but also pledge additional and predictable funding considering the ambition levels for post-2015 development agenda," Javadekar said.