Task Force: Doing More With Less

Congratulations!

The United Nations has chosen you to help progress their twelfth sustainable development goal: responsible consumption and production. Your goal is to implement a nationwide plan of action to increase sustainable consumption of water, energy, and food.

Why Are We Doing This?

Sustainable consumption is, “the use of services and related products, which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as the emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardize the needs of further generations.”  In simpler terms, it is about doing more with less! Here, we ask you to consider ways to increase sustainable consumption of water, energy, and food. 

Steps:

1. Research information about the United Nations’ twelfth SDG (responsible consumption and production)
2. Then, try to come up with ideas on how to increase sustainable consumption of resources
   1. What are some goals the UN has to sustainably consume water, energy, and food?
   2. What kinds of programs/guidelines/policies will you create for a sustainable consumption of water?
      1. What about food consumption?
      2. What about energy consumption?
   3. What are THREE ways communities can increase their sustainable consumption of resources?
      1. What are some ways your local community increases sustainable consumption (if any)?
   4. What are some important statistics and data that explain the importance of sustainable consumption?
3. Think through the possible objections that someone could have about your plan to increase sustainable consumption.
4. Share with the group and see if you can convince them that your nationwide plan of action to increase sustainable consumption of water, energy, and food meets the necessary goals and targets. 

Things to Keep in Mind:

• You don’t have to worry about answering all possible objections, but you should have some defense of why you think your reasons are more important.
• Your plan should include things that could realistically be implemented.