PERL had considerable exposure and generated interest while participating in the UN Commission on Sustainable Development meeting in New York City

Both PERL and Hedmark University College were mentioned a number of times in the plenary sessions as well as in CSD documents and in other side events.

Report back from CSD-18, 3-14 May 2010

CSD-18 was a success for PERL. There was considerable interest in education for sustainable development in general and in particular in education for sustainable consumption. There was also considerable interest in the approach that PERL takes and in the nature of the PERL partnership. PERL and Hedmark University College were mentioned a number of times in the plenary sessions as well as in CSD documents and in other side events.

At CSD-18, there was widespread support for education and awareness raising as an essential element to achieve more sustainable consumption and production patterns. This resulted in widespread, but not unanimous, support for a strong 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production to be developed. Further talks are necessary to develop the 10-Year Framework as well as a mechanism to bring the Framework into the CSD process so that governments can make a decision at CSD-19 in May 2011.

For more information about CSD-18 including background documents, country and organisation statements, and media releases, see the CSD-18 website.

Background

2010 was a review year in the CSD cycle, but PERL's goal is to have governments agree in 2011 on a strong theme of education for sustainable consumption and lifestyles in the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production. Read more on the CSD.

At CSD-18, PERL co-hosted a side event with UNEP, the Italian Task Force on Education for Sustainable Consumption, and the Swedish Task Force on Sustainable Lifestyles.

PERL also launched its CSD Partnership at the Partnership Fair, and participated in a number of other side events giving perspectives on consumer education and empowerment.

AT CSD-18 PERL:

• highlighted specific projects implementing sustainable lifestyles and education for sustainable consumption, particularly in developing countries
• provided policy analysis and case studies of countries experience in implementing education for sustainable consumption in the formal education sector
• provided policy recommendations for education for sustainable consumption and sustainable lifestyles
• provided perspectives on consumer education and empowerment.

PERL presentations and materials at CSD-18

Victoria W. Thoresen spoke at the opening plenary (May 3) of the meeting as a representative of the NGO Major Group commenting on the results of the Regional Implementation Meeting (in December 2009) in the UNECE region.

Invitation flyer to PERL Side Event and to the CSD Partnership launch.

Launch of PERL CSD Partnership - May 4

Presentation by David Chittenden.

Activity by Victoria W. Thoresen - activity handout

Side Event on education and empowerment for sustainable lifestyles - May 6

The event was organised by PERL in conjunction with the Italian government, the Swedish government and UNEP.

Complete programme.

Progress in implementing ESC: Overall report and individual country case studies for Japan, Mauritius and Mexico. A big thank you to the individual country case study authors and contributors for your time and effort!

Side event panel participation - May 6

Victoria W. Thoresen participated in a side event panel hosted by the government of Sweden about the lack of information on chemicals in products. See the notes for her participation.

CSD related event panel participation - May 10

Victoria W. Thoresen participated in a side event panel hosted by UNESCO and the Baha'i International Community on 'Rethinking Prosperity: Forging Alternatives to a culture of Consumerism'. Other panelists were Tim Jackson, Jeffery Barber, and Luis Flores Mimica from Consumers International South America (a PERL partner).