BAD PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

10 times

The material footprint per capita is

greater in high-income countries than in low-income countries

Failure to implement Goal 12 will result in: 

  • uncontrolled consumption of natural resources;
  • excessive waste and environmental pollution;
  • lack of control over production and consumption.
  • According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), about one third of all food produced in the world is wasted. This means that approximately 1.3 billion tons of food are lost annually.
  • According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), about 6 percent of global electricity production is lost during transmission and distribution.
  • According to a 2019 UN report, about 30 percent of water taken from rivers and lakes around the world is lost due to infrastructure leaks and mismanagement.
  • Reports show that many people waste work time on unproductive factors such as surfing websites, social media or ineffective meetings, which leads to a loss of efficiency and productivity.
  • According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that approximately 2.01 billion tons of solid waste is produced globally every year.
  • According to a World Bank report, only about 13.5% of urban waste worldwide is treated appropriately.
  • It is estimated that approximately 8 million tons of plastic end up in the seas and oceans every year. Reports indicate that by 2050 there may be more plastic than fish in the oceans.
  • According to the United Nations, the amount of electronic waste generated globally is increasing and was estimated to be approximately 53.6 million tons in 2019.
  • The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that approximately 190 million people worldwide suffer from unemployment, and many employed people live in poverty and receive low wages.