Governments worldwide have called for increased international co-operation on policy to encourage more environmentally sustainable, energy efficient products. As the marketplace for goods and services becomes increasingly global, so too is the need to ensure co-operation in the development of policy roadmaps, labels and standards. The International Task Force for Sustainable Products (ITFSP) has been established to respond to these needs. Led by the United Kingdom with participants from 13 countries, the IEA and the UN, the ITFSP aims to identify the priorities for action, then stimulate and support the development of international networks and co-operative projects to address the key priorities. ITFSP will report progress to governments, for example, through Marrakech and G8 processes.
For information on the background and history of the ITFSP, click here.
This web site provides a summary of the Task Force's goals and main activities:
- International co-operation on sustainable products aims to achieve the following desirable outcomes.
- The ITFSP work plan has been developed to tackle the key priorities identified by members.
- An early activity of the Task Force has been to map national and international policies in the fields of product test methodologies, labelling and standards.
- The Task Force plans to achieve concrete progress in specific areas through international networks of experts. Known as Global Sustainable Product Networks (GSPNs), such networks have already been set up to cover lighting, home entertainment products, electric motors and compliance issues.
- A number of product databases exist to provide information on product performance and sustainable consumption and production.
- A calendar presents a summary of the main high-level events that will shape the international agenda for sustainable consumption and production (SCP). Information on the ITFSP's meetings can be accessed here.
- The Task Force does not itself provide funding for co-operative activities, but encourages participants to fund their own contributions and will seek funding from international sources, such as the Global Environment Facility, to encourage participation of developing countries.
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