Policy intervention towards sustainable consumption is thus important in shifting the demand side/civil sector towards a sustainable socio-techno regime. i.e. altering provision systems and infrastructure. This is a shift from a technically oriented efficiency approach to a sufficiency approach. This shift in thinking is highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, which emphasize the need to shift forms of consumption to achieve the long-term goals of respecting planetary boundaries and decarbonization.
This presentation first introduce conventional typology of policies, including sector-based, life-cycle based, and instrument-based classification. First, the sector-based typology ranges from traditional impact/input categories such as waste, water, air, and biodiversity to the key consumption domains such as food, housing, transport, and consumer goods. The second is defined in which stages of life cycle of product system, such as production, distribution, use, consumption, and disposal, the policy involves. Finally, instrument-based typology is by the differentiation of policy instruments such as economic, voluntary, and information-based instruments. However, none of the above typologies can capture all the systemic, holistic, and transitional perspective of SCP.
When SCP policy packages are discussed and overviewed, the following three perspectives are important. The first perspective is a focus on life cycle of product system. Needs for life cycle approach for intervening product and service systems towards energy and material efficiency and pollution preventions are well-represented by the policy concept of “integrated product policy(IPP)”. Second perspective is a focus on the user side of products and the services to facilitate behavior change as well as life style change of consumers. Third perspective is a focus on infrastructure of service provisions, rather than product or service itself such as infrastructure of energy production and provisions (for example, promotion of renewable energy), housing, or transport system.
Based on these perspectives, it will introduce the alternate way to categorize policy approaches based on different level/phase of ambitions in material and energy consumption reduction from basic needs satisfaction such as sanitation and pollution prevention to long-term goal of living within a boundary of a planet (one planet living). More unconventional way for policy categorization proposed in this presentation is phased approach based on policy evolution from basic needs satisfaction towards one planet living. Here, we would like to highlight the following four phases of policy packages; 1) basic needs, 2) efficiency improvement, 3) integrated systemic change, and 4) transition to one planet living. Sufficiency approach emphasizes a need of shift in policy emphasis from efficiency improvement to one planet living. This typology can be applied to some priority SCP package areas: eco-design package, circular economy package, smart infrastructure package, and lifestyle change and share economy package.
Having a matrix of first categorization and second categorization, it is easier to identify necessary areas of SCP policy research to further elaborate currently missing policy options on promoting new business models for circular economy, shared economy, reducing material consumption, and encouraging more sustainable lifestyle.
• Public policy and governance , • Sustainable consumption and production
