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1.2
The Role of Consumer Organizations and Other
Non-Governmental Organizations in
Promotion of Sustainable Energy Consumption
by Vo-Kyung Song, President (International), Citizens’ Alliance for
Consumer Protection of Korea , Seoul, Republic of Korea
1.2.1 Introduction
Chapter Four of the United Nations Programme of Action on Sustainable Development of 1992, also known as Agenda 21, emphasizes the necessary change of production and consumption patterns. Promotion of sustainable energy, sustainable transportation and waste disposal management are all emphasized in this United Nations Action Programme.
The conservation of resources and energy is an essential concern of the consumer movement. Large amounts of resources and energy will be needed to meet the needs of future generations. In the past, mankind needed only limited amounts of energy for survival. However, with the continuation of currently prevailing development trends in lifestyles and resource and energy consumption, future generations may find it difficult to meet their needs.
“Sustainable energy” may be defined as “energy for promoting sustainable human development, involving the least possible negative health, environmental and social impacts from production and use, and which can be supplied continuously to future generations”.
People with higher incomes tend to consume more energy than do people with lower incomes. At the national level, energy consumption of the industrialized countries typically exceeds the levels of consumption in developing countries. In many of the more rapidly industrializing developing countries personal incomes continue to rise. Some countries, such as Republic of Korea, are even approaching the levels of industrialized countries. The quantity of energy consumed in the developing countries of Asia is expected to continue increase rapidly in the future.
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Electric
appliances are now more energy-efficient than
in the past. However, the total per capita energy
consumption for transport and residential purposes
is nevertheless growing, due to longer distances
travelled and more electricity and electric appliances
used in households.
There are principally two choices to address the
problem of raising energy demand: expansion of
energy supply or energy demand management. In
many countries there are limitations on increasing
the energy supply: fossil fuels reserves are often
limited; emissions from energy production and
consumption affect the quality of the environment;
and the cost of alternative energy development
is high. As a result, policy makers often face
great difficulties in charting energy sector development
plans. A comparatively cost effective way to manage
energy demand growth is through energy efficiency
promotion and advocacy of energy conservation.
How to make this possible is the concern and task
of consumer groups.
Table 1.2.1
Goal, strategy and programme for sustainable energy
comsumption
In order to realize sustainable energy consumption
it is necessary to maximize energy efficiency,
to minimize pollution, and to steadily supply
sufficient energy also to the socially disadvantaged
groups of society. Technical developments can
improve the efficient use of energy. However,
changes in attitude or behavioural changes by
consumers can also result in more sustainable
urban or rural lifestyles and consumption patterns.
Furthermore, sustainable energy production and
consumption can also be achieved by developing
alternative energy supplies.
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1.2.2 Activities of consumer organizations and non-governmental organizations for sustainable energy promotion
Among the non-governmental organizations, consumer organizations and similar civil society groups have a potentially particularly important role to play. Their mandate and experience places them in a strategically important position vis-à-vis the consumers. Consumer organizations are accustomed to conduct product tests and to launch educational campaigns for social objectives (e.g.; health protection and public information campaigns, anti-smoking or anti drug-abuse educational campaigns, etc). Consumer organizations are well placed to also support public campaign for energy efficiency and energy conservation.
Consumer organizations can give advice on sustainable energy use and aspects of energy consumption. Consumer organizations have the means to provide consumers with information that allow them to make informed choices. Consumer organizations may also encourage government and industry to adopt policies and methods through which sustainable consumption can be promoted.
Some consumer organization regularly conduct product tests and publish results in independent consumer information magazine. Such test reports are likely to affect consumer choices and may create desired preferences for more energy efficient product or consumption patterns.
In Asia, the
Hong Kong Consumer Council (HKCC) has done research
on the quantity of energy consumed by consumer products,
such as refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines,
water heating systems (which use gas) and electric
cooking stoves. Research done by HKCC shows that “the
best product” in washing machines could save buyers
over 30 per cent in energy and water consumption.
HKCC publishes the test results in its monthly magazine
“Choice” which is highly respected by consumers. For
example, when an article about air conditioning systems
was published in the magazine it sold over 60,000
copies. The paper presented in Section 3.3 of this
publication outlines in greater detail the research
and campaign concepts of the Hong Kong Consumer Council.
In many countries, consumer organizations have been involved in the preparations for the launch of environmental or energy labelling programmes. Consumer organizations also have a mandate to verify the accuracy of label information. Consumer organizations have been involved in energy-related programmes through education, research and testing, campaigns, lobbying and advocacy.
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In a variety of countries, consumer organizations have supported energy saving campaigns, including campaigns focused on substituting incandescent conventional lamps with compact fluorescent light bulbs. In many instances, consumer organizations have also advocated the increased use of public over private transport.
In implementing their advocacy work consumer organizations obviously also encounter a variety of obstacles:
- Many consumers have a clear preference for comparatively lower priced
products, even if their quality is inferior. In those cases, in which the
more energy efficient products are also the costlier products,
commercial as well as social marketing faces specific difficulties;
- Consumer information need to be available at the right time and in the
right place before or when purchasing decisions are made. Consumer
organizations can conduct general public information campaigns, but
they still face considerable difficulties in making their information or
advice noted by consumers taking purchasing decisions;
- Programmes aimed at creating preferences for energy efficient products
require long-term information and marketing strategies.
1.2.3 Activities and energy efficiency campaigns in Republic of Korea
In Republic of Korea, a considerable number of non-governmental
initiatives have emerged which promote environment-conscious
consumer behaviour. Citizens’
Alliance for Consumer Protection of Korea (CACPK)
programmes and strategies aim to encourage companies
to participate voluntarily in the energy efficiency
movement. CACPK also takes part in the Government’s
energy policy-making process and suggests ways to
improve government policies.
In 1994, CACPK launched its first nation wide survey on consumer behaviour which served as a basis for subsequent campaigns to promote sustainable energy and consumption patterns. CACPK works together with other international associations and national groups. One of the empirical studies showed that younger generations tends to be less concerned with saving energy and resources than older generations are. On the basis of these findings, in 1995 it started implementing educational programmes particularly targeting young people and opinion leaders.
In 1995, CACPK also started its campaign to expand the national energy efficiency labelling campaign project. Since that time, CACPK and its associated organizations have held many workshops on energy efficiency which have also involved representatives of leading appliance manufacturers. CACPK has lobbied the Government to provide more tangible incentives for energy efficiency projects. At the same time, CACPK has consulted leading corporations and urged their voluntary participation in energy efficiency improvement programmes. The Government of the Republic of Korea was among the first to introduced a comprehensive national energy efficiency labelling programme.
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top In January 1997, ESCAP and CACPK commenced their cooperation and organized a national "Workshop on Strategy Development for Leadership on Sustainable Energy Consumption". Since then, the two organizations have held further meetings and group training events on sustainable energy consumption. The jointly organized activities included:
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Asia-Pacific NGO Forum on Effective Consumer Information
for Sustainable Energy Use, Seoul, Republic of
Korea, May 1999;
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North-East Asia Forum on Effective Consumer Information
for Sustainable Energy Use, Beijing, China, 21-23
March 2001; and
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ESCAP/CACPK Regional Forum on Effective Campaigning
for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Consumption,
Seoul, Republic of Korea, November 2001.
Activities of CACPK and other NGOs in Republic of Korea can be distinguished by the varying objectives and the nature of the campaigns which are described here below.
1.2.3.1 Energy saving campaigns
Many NGOs have engaged in launching energy saving campaigns to indirectly address energy supply problems. The “Switch Off One Lamp In Each House Campaign” is a good example of one of the early campaigns in Republic of Korea. The “One Million Household Energy Conservation Campaign” is another good example of a broad-based campaign effort. Energy saving campaigns can only be successful if they are supported by a large number of civil society groups, women’s organizations and other environmentally concerned movements.
Energy Saving Campaigns require considerable financial resources and institutional support. Activities in the Republic of Korea have greatly benefited from a close collaboration between government and non-governmental agencies. In Republic of Korea, the Korea Energy Management Corporation (KEMCO), a government agency, has supported energy saving and efficiency programmes run by NGOs such as women and social groups.
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1.2.3.2 Energy efficiency campaigns
For several years CACPK has advocated voluntary energy efficiency cooperation programmes with industrial enterprises. In July 1997, CACPK organized a public signing ceremony to announce an agreement between the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy and the Republic of Korea’s four major household electric appliance manufacturers (LG, Samsung, Daewoo, and Hyundai Electronics). All four leading appliance manufacturers committed themselves to increase the share of energy-efficient products in their overall production.
A further well-known voluntary energy efficiency promotion campaign programme is the National CACPK “Energy Winner Award”. The concept and the campaign strategy is illustrated in greater detail in Section 3.1 of this publication. The experience of CACPK of the past five years has shown that the public relation campaign provides significant encouragement to manufacturer to invest in the manufacture of energy-efficient products. The implementation of the Energy Efficiency Award Programme is guided by the independent Energy Advisory Committee which has been established by CACPK for the purpose of reviewing applications.
Another campaign effort in which CACPK participated is the “Green Energy Movement to Revive the Economy and the Environment”. This programme has developed a “Green Energy Index” and has encouraged companies to improve their environmental performance. The “Green Energy Index” obliges companies to compare the efficiency of their energy and resource use with that of other companies as well as with international standards. This index is not intended to criticize companies, but rather to give them a motivation and inducement to improvements in productivity and environmental consciousness.
The role of CACPK in the energy efficiency campaigning is to act as a catalyst for cooperation between companies, government and consumers. Consumers groups act as the core. They encourage government agencies and companies to effectively promote the common goal of energy efficiency. Consumer groups may also ask the Government to adopt policies that support their energy efficiency activities.
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In April 1995, the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) at its third session suggested that sustainable consumption patterns should be included in the United Nations Consumer Protection Guidelines adopted in 1985. In 1996, after holding various consultations CSD requested that Consumers International prepare a revised plan for implementation of the Consumer Protection Guidelines. CACPK has actively participated in this consultative process which has lead to the 1999 amendment of the United Nations Consumer Protection Guidelines to include Sustainable Consumption. For easy reference, a copy of the amended United Nations Guidelines is included in the Annex to this publication
1.2.3.3 Climate change countermeasures
In the Republic of Korea a coalition of non-governmental organizations have called for programmes and measures to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases by 20 per cent through the creation and implementation of a comprehensive “Greenhouse Effect Reduction Plan”. The Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) and “Green Korea”, together with CACPK, were among the non-governmental organizations which established the Korean NGO Committee for the Kyoto Meeting, the Korean Climate Protection and Energy Federation Meeting (1998) and the Climate Forum. These meetings have provided important opportunities to discuss measures to counter climate change, invariably including energy conservation and energy efficiency projects and campaign activities. In order to facilitate and coordinate their activities, participating NGOs also established and electronic communication network.
1.2.3.4 Alternative energy campaigns
The promotion of increased applications of alternative renewable sources of energy is a further important area for activity of non-governmental organizations.
KFEM organized “alternative energy” forums with the participation of prominent energy specialists and environment experts. A total of eight workshops and one symposium on renewable energy were held during recent years.
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1.2.3.5 Anti-nuclear campaigns
As in many other countries, nuclear energy utilization and its position in national energy supply is widely discussed among the non-governmental organizations.
1.2.3.6 Participation in the leading decision-making processes
The main participation of the CACPK in the decision-making process is in the Presidential Commission on Sustainable Development, comprised of business and top level government officials as well as representatives of NGOs. All members in this commission are appointed by the President of Republic of Korea.
1.2.4 Conclusions and outlook:
consumer organizations and promotion of sustainable energy use in rapidly industrializing developing countries
To achieve sustainable energy, consumers groups can create awareness among consumers about their rights as energy users, purchasers and citizens. As energy users, consumers can save energy in their daily life. As purchasers, they can select energy-efficient products. As citizens, they can ask the Government to develop energy efficiency policies.
Consumers themselves can contribute to saving energy by switching off unnecessary lights in their home, using public transport, and choosing energy-efficient products. This brings economic benefits to the consumers themselves, their families and/or interest groups, and affects companies by stimulating them to manufacture energy-efficient products to satisfy growing demand.
In order to encourage consumers to use energy-efficient products, consumer organizations and other civil society groups must ensure that manufacturers adhere to the appropriate energy-efficiency standards, give end consumers information about energy efficiency, and extend the scope of energy-efficient products. The best way to economize on energy use is to diminish the need for it (e.g.; by sharing facilities with other people or by adopting lifestyles that reduce the reliance on energy).
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In the more affluent societies, consumer organizations may also engage in studies of lifestyle changes and studies of consumer behaviour. The Factor 4 paradigm, publicized by E. von Weizsacker and A. and H. Lovins in their 1997 report to the Club of Rome, highlights clearly to need for a more comprehensive re-thinking of consumer attitudes and consumer values. Consumer organizations may encourage households to:
- (re)consider their real needs for specific appliances;
- consider investing in high-efficiency appliances;
- consider using appliances for as long as possible;
- practicing separation and re-cycling of wastes, and
- sharing facilities with other people where possible.
Consumers may be classified into four groups:
- performance groups;
- potential performance groups;
- on-looker groups; and
- unconcerned-nonperformance groups.
Performance groups are those people who actively save resources and energy. Potential performance groups are those people who want to save resources and energy but don’t know what steps to take. On-looker groups are those people who know that they need to save resources and energy but are unwilling to do so. Unconcerned-nonperformance groups are those people who do not want to change and practice resources and energy saving.
There are clear differences between past and present resources and energy saving campaigns and energy conservation campaigners need to learn and exchange experiences. In the past, the focus of many campaigns was on making people aware of the need to save energy merely because of insufficient energy supplies, or to appeal to people for the sake of national development or patriotism, not for individual advantage.
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Consumers can make a significant contribution to the management of total energy use and to the reduction of environmentally harmful emissions. They can do this by purchasing the right appliances and by using and disposing of them in the right way.
References
Consumers International (1997). Consumers and the Environment: Meeting Needs, Changing Life Styles, World Consumer Rights Day, 15 March 1997, Chile
Lau Connie (2000). The Role of Product Testing in Consumer Information and Perspectives for International Cooperation, Hong Kong Consumer Council, Hong Kong, China, pp 1-11
ESCAP, (2001). High-Level Regional Meeting on Energy for Sustainable Development, 21-24 November 2000, Bali, Indonesia (New York)
Simmons, P.J., (1998). Learning to Live with NGOs. Foreign Policy No.112
Song V., & Kim J., (1997), Consumer Sociology, Jiphyunjun (Seoul)
Tegethoff, B., AgV (1999). Role of Consumer Groups in Promotion of Sustainable Energy Use, Asia-Pacific NGO Forum on Effective Consumer Information for Sustainable Energy Use, Korea Press Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 19-21 May 1999.
Weizsacker, E.U. von et al (1997). Factor Four - Doubling Wealth. Halving Resource Use, Earthscan (London)
William S. Breed, (1995). Changing Consumption Patterns: United States Energy Policy, Workshop on Policy Measured for Changing Consumption Patterns, 30 August 1995 to 1 September 1995, Seoul.
World Energy Assessment (2000). Energy and the challenge of sustainability (New York).
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sustainable
energy promotion
