About Centre for Consumer Studies (CCS), IIPA
The Centre for Consumer Studies (CCS) of Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) is dedicated to consumer studies and is sponsored by Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India. The objective of the CCS is to perform, facilitate and promote better protection of consumers’ rights and interests with special reference to rural India. The broad areas of focus of the Centre comprise capacity building, advocacy, policy analysis, research, advisory and consultative services, and networking.
The Centre seeks to network with national and international agencies and interface with other stakeholders by serving as a bridging “think tank” with an intensive advocacy role. The Centre provides a forum for creating dialogue among policymakers, service providers, representatives of various business establishments and their associations, professional bodies / associations, civil society organizations, educational / research institutions, economic and social development organizations as well as leading NGOs.
About the Seminar
Today, there is a global recognition that unsustainable patterns of consumption have extreme serious social and environmental impacts worldwide. Ever increasing and irresponsible consumption is putting a catastrophic strain on the environment, by causing pollution and global warming induced by climate change. The link between sustainable consumption and sustainable development was stressed in the 2002 Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development which states: “Poverty eradication, changing consumption and production patterns, and protecting and managing the natural resource base for economic and social development are overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development”.
In 1999, the UN General Assembly revised the United Nations Guidelines on Consumer Protection to include sustainable consumption in the Objectives and General Principles as well as in a specific new section. Now it is essential that governments and other stakeholder should commit to implementing policies that will guide towards a sustainable course. However, it is equally essential that consumers everywhere are empowered to act in relation to sustainable consumption, and assume their rights and responsibilities in this respect. Major existing strategies to tackle climate change see consumers only as a part of the problem. They should not just be seen as a part of the problem rather as a major part of the solution. Consumers are the key to the wide-spread behavioral shifts needed. Consumers are the key to driving sustainable production and play a central role in sustainable development. Today, the consumers are concerned about climate change and its effects – many want to act in ways consistent with the necessary reduction in emissions. Inspite of global enforcement about the problems, there is a lack of effective action.
To a large extent, consumer behavior is key to the impact that society has on the environment as consumer choices of products and services have direct and indirect impacts on the environment, as well as on personal well-being. Changing behaviors and, in particular, motivating more sustainable behaviors is difficult. Therefore, there is a need for dialogue, discussion and exchange of ideas.
This seminar is an attempt to discuss various issues concerning unsustainable consumption on part of the consumers leading to adverse impact on the climate and the role the consumers can play. Although awareness is increasing, most people find it difficult to relate their personal consumption habits to large scale problems such as climate change. Fundamental changes are needed in how natural resources are extracted, the way products are produced, distributed, used and disposed of. Action is needed at all levels of society – from individuals, industry, governments at central, state and local levels, and civil society organizations – in order to reverse current trends and live in ecological limits. To reverse the current unsustainable trends, consumers need to be well-informed, empowered and feel that their actions make a difference. People need clear and better information about which changes in their spending habits will have the biggest impact. They need to know which are the best-performing products, how to make the most efficient use of them, and the cleanest ways to dispose of them. The seminar will debate on all these issues and draw up strategies to meet the new challenges.
Broad Themes of the Seminar
- Climate Change: Global Concerns
- Resource Management and Climate Change.
- Consumer Lifestyles and Sustainable Consumption: Issues & Concerns
- Sustainable Consumption: Policies and Programmes
- People Centered Approach to Sustainable Consumption
- Sustainable Consumption: Consumer Education & Awareness
Sub-Themes for the Seminar
- Promoting Good Governance for Sustainable Consumption;
- Quality of Life and Sustainable Consumption;
- Changing Consumer Lifestyles; Threat to Earth Sustainability;
- Climate Change and its Impact (Agriculture, Food securities etc.);
- Consumer’s Contribution and Responsibilities to Climate Change;
- Climate Change and Natural Resource Depletion (Land, Water, Forest etc.);
- Creating Sustainable Consumption and Production Markets;
- Waste Minimization and Recycling;
- Education for Sustainable Consumption and Environmental Awareness;
- Development of Sustainable Communities;
- Role of Individual, Civil Society and NGOs in Sustainable Consumption ;
- Strategic Priorities of Sustainable Consumption;
- Gandhian Lifestyle: Need Vs Greed (Low Carbon Life Style);
- Local Climate Actions;
- Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Technologies;
- Ethical Consumerism;
- Corporate Responsibility in Resource Management;
- Strengthening Institutions for Management of the Environment;
- Alternative Solutions to Mass Consumption;
- Participatory Planning in Grass Root Activation; and
- Green Consumerism.
The Seminar would have paper presentations on the above-mentioned themes and sub-themes. On the recommendation of a Screening Committee, quality papers will be selected and published by the Centre in an Edited Volume.
Contact Details
Seminar Coordinators:
Prof. Vinod Kumar Sharma (Professor, Disaster Management)
Prof. Suresh Misra (Chair Professor, Consumer Affairs)
Centre for Consumer Studies,
Indian Institute of Public Administration,
I.P. Estate, Ring Road,
New Delhi – 110002.
Phone: +91-011-23468347
E-mail: ccsiipaseminar@gmail.com & ccs.iipa@gmail.com
Website: www.consumereducation.in
