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COMMUNITY INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT CITIZEN ACTION

  • - Eco Counselling Europe: A network of eco-counsellors with 10 national associations, Eco Counselling Europe aims to support sustainable consumption by bringing information and knowledge on a very concrete level from one country to another. Across Europe, more than 3000 eco counsellors work professionally promoting sustainability with citizens, public bodies, schools, politics, trade, industry and science. They are skilled in helping communities and local authorities to reduce CO2 emissions, ensure environmentally sound procurement policies, check energy management in private and public households and raise public awareness in general. Eco counsellors also reach more than 1.000.000 people per year with their personal advice on “Environmental Hotlines”. The work of eco counsellors is regularly supported by governments on local and national level.
  • - The Global Action Plan for the Earth (GAP): GAP is a strategic, result-oriented NGO initiative with the goal to empower a critical mass of citizens of industrialized countries to permanently redesign their lifestyles. GAP`s Household EcoTeam Programme provides people with a structured approach on how to take practical action to reduce consumption in their daily lives, together with a peer support and feedback system to monitor results. Over 8 000 households have achieved measured resource savings of 40% for rubbish sent for municipal disposal, 12% and 15% for energy and water respectively, and a reduction of CO2 output of 18% (medians for 12 countries). GAP is now refining strategies for mobilizing mass participation. Around 30 community-based lifestyle campaigns are being piloted, integrated with national programmes advancing the sustainable consumption agendas and Local Agenda 21.
  • - Citizen’s Alliance for Consumer Protection of Korea (CACPK): In 1994, CACPK launched a campaign to promote sustainable consumption patterns. This included a survey on the attitudes, knowledge and behaviour of consumers regarding energy conservation. The survey shows that the younger generation has lower conservation awareness and practice scores. Special educational programmes need to be geared at the young and opinion leaders. CACPK will organize an education programme in 1995 and is preparing a model of sustainable consumption patterns in Korea.