Sustainable Development Week

Sustainable Development Week

One way to encourage citizens, communities and businesses to change their habits to protect the planet and the climate.

The concept, which emerged from the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, seems better known to the general public: it is about combining economic growth, social progress and preservation of the environment.

“In 2002, only 9% of French people were aware of this concept, today 50% say they know the word and 40% can give the definition. The term has indeed entered into common usage, ”said the Minister of Ecology, Nelly Ollin. “The theme is starting to make sense,” admits Christian Brodhag, interministerial delegate for sustainable development. The latter admits to being more "dubious about the changes in behavior" caused by this week of events, organized for the fourth consecutive year.

In this case, nearly 1400 initiatives, or double the number of last year, were selected.
We will thus find exhibitions, open days, a series of conferences and seminars and actions in the field: promotion of cycling or water savings in car washing, “sustainable development” labeling in villages under 2000. inhabitants. All of this will be supported by a campaign of radio and television spots, and the distribution of posters and brochures on daily “civic actions”, one of which, in the colors of Babar, is intended for 4-8 year olds.

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The MEDEF (employers) occupies the field by launching a guide of a hundred good practices intended for companies. More and more of them are communicating about sustainable development.

The Ministry of the Environment is considering the possibilities of extending the “energy label”, already applied to cars and household appliances, to other products. Purpose: to report their carbon dioxide (CO2) value. For example, counting and displaying greenhouse gas emissions on a tray of strawberries imported from the end of the world out of season. Until then, "consumers to be responsible," said the Minister of the Environment.

Ethicity, a consultancy agency for companies in the field of sustainable development, carried out a survey on the state of mind of French opinion on the issue, by interviewing 4500 representative people in March. One in two "feels concerned by the state of the planet", explains Ethicity. 83% say they have become aware of their power of action through their purchases. And more than 20% think that it is simply necessary to consume less ”. If nothing responds to these concerns, warns the agency, "we run the risk of seeing the largest consumers opt for decrease".

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