The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption ...

The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

The Role of Cities in Advancing
Sustainable Consumption: Why, What and
How?

USDN – SCORAI Workshop
Eugene, Oregon

October 30, 2014

David Allaway,
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
[email protected]

1

The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

An Operetta in Three Acts

2

The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Act One:
Myths that Keep Government from Acting

3

The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Myth: Government Has No Role in
Shaping Consumption

4

The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Myth: There’s Not Much Government
Could Do (if we wanted)

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The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Myth: We’ll Antagonize Businesses

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The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

World Business Council for Sustainable
Development

• Current global consumption patterns can’t be
sustained

– Efficiency gains and technological advances alone
won’t be sufficient

– Changes will be required to consumer lifestyles

• Well-being doesn’t rely on high levels of
consumption

• Consumers are concerned and willing to act, but
external barriers get in their way

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The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Act Two:
How DEQ Came to Sustainable Consumption

Business Grants Solid
Assistance Waste
Waste Management
Material Selection Prevention Plan
& LCA Update
Strategy

GHG Climate CBEI
Concerns Action
Plans
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The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

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The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Act Three:
What We’ve Learned Along the Way

1. The limits of conventional sustainability
initiatives. For example . . .

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The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Less Recycling vs. More Recycling

Normalized impact 120.00 37% recycling rate
(baseline w/37% recycling = 100) 100.00 62% recycling rate
80.00
60.00
40.00
20.00

-

“Baseline” = PET, half-liter, 13.3 grams, 0% post-consumer recycled content (PCR), on-site molding,

purified municipal water (reverse osmosis, ozone and uv), 50 miles to retail, 5 miles home-to-retail,

co-purchase w/24 other products, no chilling. 11

The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Less Recycling vs. More Recycling vs.
Waste Prevention (Producer)

Normalized impact 120.00 37% recycling rate
(baseline w/37% recycling = 100) 100.00
80.00 62% recycling rate
60.00
40.00 62% recycling rate,
20.00 lightweighted

-

“Baseline” = PET, half-liter, 13.3 grams, 0% post-consumer recycled content (PCR), on-site molding,

purified municipal water (reverse osmosis, ozone and uv), 50 miles to retail, 5 miles home-to-retail,12
co-purchase w/24 other products, no chilling.

The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Less Recycling vs. More Recycling vs.

Waste Prevention (Producer) vs. Waste

Prevention (Consumer)

Normalized impact 120.00
(baseline w/37% recycling = 100)
100.00

80.00 37% recycling rate
60.00

40.00 62% recycling rate
20.00

- 62% recycling rate,
lightweighted

tap water (worst case)

“Baseline” = PET, half-liter, 13.3 grams, 0% post-consumer recycled content (PCR), on-site molding,

purified municipal water (reverse osmosis, ozone and uv), 50 miles to retail, 5 miles home-to-retail,

co-purchase w/24 other products, no chilling. 13

The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Less Recycling vs. More Recycling vs.

Waste Prevention (Producer) vs. Waste

Prevention (Consumer)

Normalized impact 120.00
(baseline w/37% recycling = 100)
100.00 37% recycling rate
80.00

60.00 62% recycling rate
40.00

20.00 62% recycling rate,
- lightweighted

tap water (worst case)

tap water (best case)

“Baseline” = PET, half-liter, 13.3 grams, 0% post-consumer recycled content (PCR), on-site molding,

purified municipal water (reverse osmosis, ozone and uv), 50 miles to retail, 5 miles home-to-retail,

co-purchase w/24 other products, no chilling. 14

The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Act Three:
What We’ve Learned Along the Way

1. The limits of conventional sustainability
initiatives.

2. Indirect rebound effects are real.

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The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Emissions vs. Emissions Intensities,
Selected Household Commodities
(Oregon, 2005)

7.00

3-Phase Emissions Intensity (kgCO2e/$) 6.00
average = 0.89
5.00

4.00

3.00

2.00

1.00

0.01 0.10 1.00 10.00 100.00 1000.00 10000.00

0.00 16

3-Phase Household Consumption Emissions (kMTCO2e, Log Scale)

average = 100.27

The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Act Three:
What We’ve Learned Along the Way

1. The limits of conventional sustainability
initiatives.

2. Indirect rebound effects are real.
3. Look for allies in unconventional places.

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The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Act Three:
What We’ve Learned Along the Way

1. The limits of conventional sustainability
initiatives.

2. Indirect rebound effects are real.
3. Look for allies in unconventional places.
4. You can work on sustainable consumption

without calling it “sustainable consumption”
...

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The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Act Three:
What We’ve Learned Along the Way

1. The limits of conventional sustainability 19
initiatives.

2. Indirect rebound effects are real.

3. Look for allies in unconventional places.

4. You can work on sustainable consumption
without calling it “sustainable consumption”
...

5. . . . although conversations about
sustainable consumption can be
transformational

The Role of Cities in Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Thank You

David Allaway, Oregon DEQ 20
[email protected]