Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) are central to addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and have become foundational pillars of international sustainability policy frameworks.

Concern for the well-being of the planet has been gradually moving to centre stage in global policy debates. Consensus-building on the need for sustainable development has been carried out over many decades, with the early roots dating to discussions in the 1970s on the human environment.

As a result of this foundational work, it is increasingly recognised that unsustainable patterns of consumption and production sit at the nexus of the prevailing triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Collective action for sustainable development

To be impactful, sustainable development requires global collaboration involving governments, businesses, consumers, researchers and innovators in both production and consumption cycles.

Solutions must adapt to the diverse conditions of developed and developing markets, with special consideration given to evolving markets and sustainability challenges. It is essential to co-create sustainable solutions with all stakeholders, including informal traders, rural producers and vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers.

Governments worldwide must enable the shift toward more sustainable consumption and production through appropriate regulatory frameworks. Moreover, businesses play a critical role in facilitating transparency, enhancing disclosure and ensuring accountability, empowering consumers to make informed choices and fostering trust in sustainable development initiatives.

Consumer protection is not just about safeguarding economic interests; it is a powerful driver of sustainability. By embedding sustainability into consumer protection laws and practices, governments can foster responsible consumption patterns that reduce waste, lower emissions and encourage businesses to adopt greener production methods.

Objective and intended audience

This report underscores how consumer protection policies can be aligned with MEA provisions to facilitate sustainable consumption, while identifying opportunities for enhanced collaboration between governments, businesses and consumers to support implementation of the MEAs. This is done by analysing the MEAs to identify ways in which consumer protection is reflected in the provisions, clauses and text of each one; and exploring ways in which consumer protection policies can support implementation of the identified MEAs. The United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (UNGCP) are the key frame of reference for the consumer protection elements referenced in the analysis.

Report structure

This report begins by providing an overview of the current global sustainability landscape, underscoring the need for systemic changes in consumption and production practices.

Section 2 describes the United Nations agencies’ mandates on consumer protection, sustainable consumption and the environment.

Section 3 highlights how consumer protection principles and tools – such as safety, information rights and environmental accountability – could align with MEA goals to benefit both consumers and ecosystems. It also delves into the selected MEAs of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the CBD and the UNFCCC, detailing how each agreement intersects with consumer protection tools to enhance environmental health, safety and informed consumer choice.

Section 4 suggests ways that UNCTAD, UNEP and other stakeholders can collaborate to promote sustainable consumption and implementation of the selected MEAs.

Section 5 provides insights on strengthening the alignment between MEA frameworks and consumer protection policies, emphasizing policy coherence, stakeholder engagement and capacity-building to achieve sustainable consumption goals.

This study was prepared in the context of the technical cooperation project “Advancing consumer information and consumer protection in alignment with multilateral environmental agreements through a synergistic partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme and UN Trade and Development.”

Report by the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development