Hanns Seidel Foundation organizes a conference on Sustainable Consumption and Production
5th Regional Conference on SDG12 Implementation
17 SDG goals have been adopted in 2015.
HSF
Joining this effort, the Hanns Seidel Foundation, in cooperation with the Asia-Europe Foundation under the consortium of ENVForum, organized the 5th Regional Conference on March 26-27, 2019, in Luang Prabang, with Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) as host. The main focus of the conference was the country’s progress in the implementation of the SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns in the Cambodia – Lao – Myanmar – Philippines - Vietnam countries as well as challenges the countries are facing.
The conference aims to inform and to exchange opinions, experience and best practices on SCP Policy and Approach among the Cambodia – Lao – Myanmar – Philippines – Vietnam countries and to promote regional cooperation.
Participants from more than 10 different countries discuss the SDG implementation in Luang Prabang, Lao.
HSF
In the last decades, ASEAN countries experienced a rapid economic growth. However, Sustainable Development Goals are often neglected. Therefore, it is important to ensure that economic shifts take place in accordance with the SDGs and to achieve the 2030 agenda.
Dr. Axel Neubert, country director of the HSF, states that the conference addresses all aspects of the 2030 agenda and stresses the challenges associated with the transition to a circular economy. International cooperation is crucial for a successful SDG implementation.
Mr. Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Director General of the Department of International Organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lao also emphasizes the importance of having the opportunity to learn from and cooperate with other countries.
Representatives exchange opinions on SCP policy and approach.
HSF
Throughout the discussion among country representatives, it was concluded that all countries face the challenges of financing and monitoring. While financing more or less represents a problem for all developing countries, monitoring can be improved by better coordination and information sharing among line-ministries, between government – private sector – research institutes and by innovative data collection methods.
During the Experts’s Panel on SDG12 Triggers of Implementation, all experts agreed that the implementation of SDG in general and SDG12 specifically can only be achieved if the private sector is actively involved in the process.
As part of the programme, the Hanns Seidel Foundation also introduced the research on SCP in Lao which was conducted in 2018 based on a request by Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment. The research provided specific recommendations on how to incorporate the concept of SCP into the country’s 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan.