The global voice for consumers

La voix des Consommateurs à travers le monde

La voz global para la defensa de los consumidores

Consumers and Climate Change

Bjarne Pedersen Director of Operations, Consumers International

2009

About Consumers International

• Global federation of consumer organisation• Independent and not-for-profit• 220 member organisations in 115 countries• Campaign, capacity build and raise awareness through and for our members

Consumers and Climate Change

Consumer organizations and CI have a key and unique role to play in this global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

We believe it is essential that governments and the business sector everywhere commit to implementing policies that guide us onto a sustainable course

Consumers and Climate Change

Initiatives to mobilize consumer concern about global warming into more sustainable consumption choices have increased globally over the past few years

Businesses, governments and civil society organisations are all involved in the development of consumer education campaigns, new products, labelling and certification initiatives.

What Assures Consumers ?

Climate Change is a main consumer issue The majority of consumers have already made some

easy, close-to-home changes There are not many who are completely unwilling to

embrace a more climate conscious lifestyle.

WAC

Consumers want more information from businesses about how they are addressing the climate impacts of their products

But consumers does not trust information from businesses on climate change

Consumers say they want more independent assurance of product information.

Solutions

Focus on what matters:

Food Transport Housing

Food and Climate Change

It is not that difficult…. but we might not like the message

DO tell consumers what matters….

Eat less meat Eat more vegetables Eat more vegetables in season Think about personal transport Keep development in mind Keep product composition in mind.

Food and Climate Change

DO NOT:

Put all the responsibility on the consumer Confuse consumers with pointless self-declared

claims/labels Add to the obesity of (poor) information Disguise climate change message as protectionism.

Mixed and misleading messages

John Chidsey, the CEO of Burger King, believes that Climate Change is "an overriding issue of importance for the global community, business community and people in general", as he stated in a interview conducted at this year's World Economic Forum (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b14ypPZ4NyE)

40 Burger Kings in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi

Conclusion…

Setting an example and enabling action Develop and consolidate rigorous and fair standards Reducing unhelpful choice Creating sector-wide solutions Helping consumers make cuts that count.

Bjarne Pedersen Director of Operations, Consumers International

www.consumersinternational.org