Panel discussion on revealing consumer protection in multilateral environmental agreements

In a world where environmental consciousness is a necessity, the implications of major environmental agreements are crucial for consumer protection authorities. This was the focus of the recent UNEP-UNCTAD project workshop titled "Revealing Consumer Protection in MEAs."

The workshop featured an expert panel that explored the impact of significant multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) such as the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, alongside the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. These discussions aimed to illustrate how these agreements affect consumers' lives, influence business practices, guide governmental policies, and stimulate academic research.

Over 50 participants attended, underscoring the widespread interest in integrating consumer protection with sustainable development strategies. The panelists demonstrated that while MEAs may seem distant, they directly impact everyday consumer choices, and therefore the daily work of consumer protection agencies.

A key message was the need for consumers to be aware and conscious of the impact of their consumption habits, as every product purchased has an environmental footprint. The discussions emphasized the importance of multi-sectoral regulation at national, regional, and international levels, integrating consumer and environmental authorise. Experts also stressed the role of education in empowering consumers with the necessary information to make informed choices, thereby fostering a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Moreover, the contribution of civil society in engaging governments in these discussions was highlighted, alongside the absolute necessity for the private sector to contribute to consumer and environmental protection, though guidance, incentives, and enforcement.

The event concluded with a clear interest to pursue work on mapping and revealing the complementarities between MEAs and consumer protection. It also displayed eagerness for continued collaboration and dialogue to robustly integrate consumer protection into environmental policies and vice-versa. Moving forward, the insights gained from this workshop will guide UNCTAD in developing an policy guidance document on the topic, which will be open for input from participants and interested stakeholders in open consultations.