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Journal of Consumer Policy (2005) 28:261288 Springer 2005DOI 10.1007/s10603-005-8490-z
ABSTRACT. What are the implications of the current international political, andeconomic settings for consumer policy, and, in particular, those regarding sustainableconsumption? In terms of improvements in the eciency of consumption, the settingshave induced eorts to this eect and show potential for further progress. In terms ofnecessary changes in consumption levels and patterns, however, little progress has beenmade since the Rio Summit nor is there likely to be any in the near future. These twodimensions of sustainable consumption need to be dierentiated, as there is a substantialamount of controversy regarding our ability to achieve sustainable consumption on thebasis of improvements in eciency alone. The paper traces these dierences with respectto the work of the major international governmental organizations (IGOs) engaged indeveloping sustainable consumption governance. It argues that the lack of commitmentto strong sustainable consumption among IGOs can be explained by their weakness asactors in global governance and the existence of strong opposing interests among consumers and business actors.Unsustainable consumption patterns and levels, in particular inindustrialized countries, are a major cause if not the major cause ofenvironmental degradation in the world today (UNDP, 1998). Without sustainable consumption, therefore, sustainable development isimpossible. Individual governments face severe constraints in thepursuit of sustainable consumption in a globalizing world, however(Fuchs & Lorek, 2002). Accordingly, sustainable consumption hasbecome an important issue on the global governance agenda (Reisch &Scherhorn, 1999).But what is sustainable consumption? In 1994, the Oslo Symposiumdened sustainable consumption as ... the use of services and relatedproducts, which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality oflife while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materialsas well as the emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle ofthe service or product so as not to jeopardize the needs of furthergenerations (Ministry of the Environment Norway, 1994). To beDoris A. Fuchs and Sylvia LorekSustainable Consumption Governance:
A History of Promises and Failures262Doris A. Fuchs and Sylvia Lorekmore specic, in the eyes of many sustainable consumption scholars,(e.g., Daly, 1998; Princen, 2003; Spangenberg & Lorek, 2002), movingtowards sustainable consumption will require two developments: First,sustainable consumption requires an increase in the eciency ofconsumption, which can be reached via technological improvements.Improvements in the eco-eciency of consumption mean a reductionin resource consumption per consumption unit...