Cultural and National Priorities

One of the key messages of sustainable development, is that different countries, cultures and communities have the right to identify what it means in their own contexts. Each has its own pattern of emphases across the social, ecological, political and economic dimensions of sustainability.

Discussions of sustainable consumption need to recognise this principle. Policies and practices appropriate to the people in the North may make little sense in the South and vice versa.

Sustainable consumption does not necessarily mean consuming less – although it certainly should in the case of those in the 20% (and more) of the world’s richest consumers in the North. However, in many cases in the South, sustainable consumption may mean consuming more.

Thus, the aim of sustainable consumption is a high quality of life for everyone – brought about by everyone consuming in ways that reduce the impacts of production and consumption.