SDG 12 Sustainable Consumption and Production: the contribution of competition and consumer policies

09 May 2023
10:00 - 12:00 hrs. Room XXVI Palais des Nations
Online and Geneva
, Switzerland

Responsible Consumption and Production, the Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12), is an essential component of sustainable development and a critical priority for the international community, as evidenced in the new UNCTAD report Competition and Consumer Protection Policies for Sustainability.

Achieving SDG 12 requires the adoption of sustainable production and consumption patterns, which minimize environmental impacts, promote resource efficiency, and reduce waste. In this context, the role of competition and consumer protection policies in promoting sustainable consumption and production has received increasing attention in recent years.

This panel aims to highlight the critical importance of SDG 12 and the urgent need to advance towards sustainable consumption exploring the contributions of competition and consumer protection policies in achieving SDG 12 and identifying potential opportunities for advancing towards sustainable consumption and production. 

Join us for a high-level session on SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production: the contributions of competition and consumer protection policies, where we will explore the crucial role of sustainable consumption and production patterns in achieving a sustainable future.

The session will focus on the contributions of competition and consumer protection in promoting sustainable consumption and production, and how they can drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and promote sustainability.

Esteemed panelists from government,  will share their insights on the challenges and opportunities in promoting sustainable consumption and production, and how competition and consumer protection can promote the sustainable patters.

This thought-provoking discussion will highlight the critical importance of SDG 12 and the urgent need to advance towards sustainable consumption and production to ensure a prosperous and resilient future for all.

Speakers:

  • Ms. Thezi R. Mabuza, Deputy Commissioner, National Consumer Commission, South Africa
  • Ms. Natalie Harsdorf-Borsch, Director-General, Austrian Federal Competition Authority 
  • Ms. Ninette K. Mwarania, Manager, Planning, Policy and Research, Competition Authority of Kenya 
  • Ms. Maria Charitou, Head of Competition Advocacy Unit of Directorate-General for Competition of the Hellenic Competition Commission
  • Mr. Jorge Laguna-Celis, Head, One Planet Network, UN Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP), United Nations Environment Programme
  • Ms. Carmen Ligia Valderrama, Professor, Universidad del Externado, Colombia

Moderator:    

  • Ms. Teresa Moreira, Head, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (CCPB), DITC, UNCTAD
(UNCTAD/DITC/CLP/2023/1) -  30 Mar 2023
 
Thezi R. Mabuza
Deputy Commissioner
National Consumer Commission, South Africa

Ms. Thezi R. Mabuza is currently Deputy Commissioner at the National Consumer Commission after leaving the employment of Department of Trade and Industry as the Chief Director of National Liquor Authority. Previously, she was the senior manager for Skills Development and Administration at the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA). She also held Directorship positions at the Department of Correctional Services responsible for Functional and Management Training and Training Standards.

 

Natalie Harsdorf-Borsch
Director-General
Austrian Federal Competition Authority

Natalie Harsdorf-Borsch, is a lawyer in competition law and since 2021 interim head of the Austrian Competition Authority . She has been working for the Federal Competition Authority (BWB) since 2009. She is the first woman to head the highest competition authority in Austria. Natalie Harsdorf-Borsch is the author of numerous specialist publications in the field of antitrust law. She is also the founder of the Women Competition Law Network Austria.

 

Ninette K. Mwarania
Manager of the Planning and Research (P&R) Department
Competition Authority of Kenya

Ninette K. Mwarania is the Manager of the Planning and Research (P&R) Department, the central planning unit for the Competition Authority of Kenya, as the output is used to initiate enforcement actions and guide advocacy programs. Ninette's main focus is to ensure that the Department produces credible economic evidence and guidance that the Authority can rely on in the cases being handled. Additionally, P&R monitors performance to ensure that the authority's vision is realized, advances the Authority’s internal and external knowledge management and enhances institutional risk management practices.
 

Jorge Laguna-Celis
Head
One Planet Network

Jorge Laguna-Celis is the Head of the One Planet Network, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Based in Paris, The One Planet Network is a global community of practitioners, policymakers and experts working to accelerate the implementation of SDG 12: ensuring sustainable patterns of consumption and production. 
Jorge has previously worked for the United Nations in multiple capacities and possesses 20 years of experience in intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder processes, global sustainable development policies and sustainable development governance. 
Jorge holds an MA degree in International Trade from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences-Po) Paris, alongside being an author of several publications and books on issues related to international affairs and sustainable development. His latest book entitled "From Rio+20 to a New Development Agenda: Building a Bridge to a Sustainable Future", was published in 2014 by Routledge.
 

Carmen Ligia Valderrama
Professor
Universidad del Externado, Colombia

Carmen Ligia Valderrama Rojas is a Lawyer from Universidad Externado de Colombia. Specialist in Business Law from Universidad Externado de Colombia. Master’s degree in Business Law from the Centro Europeo de Estudios y Formación Empresarial Garriguez & Andersen, Madrid-Spain. Postgraduate course "Management of the Market Product Security Surveillance System". School of Administration of the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona, the Catalan Consumer Agency, the Organization of American States and the Pan-American Health Organization. Washington.

She was Head of the Legal Office, General Secretary, Advisor to the Superintendent, Delegated Superintendent for Industrial Property (e), Delegated Superintendent for Consumer Protection and Superintendent of Industry and Trade (e), Superintendent of Industry and Trade, Superintendent of Transport and currently serves as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Transport.

Teresa Moreira
Head, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, Division on International Trade and Commodities
UNCTAD

Teresa Moreira is the Head of the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, Division on International Trade and Commodities at UNCTAD. She joined UNCTAD in 2016 and previously served as the Consumer Director-General of Portugal and as a Member of the Board of the Portuguese Competition Authority when it was first created. She also served as Portugal’s Director-General and Deputy Director General for International Economic Relations and held senior positions at the Directorate-General for Competition.

Teresa worked for over 20 years as a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon in the areas of International Economic Law and European Law, as well as European Competition Law and European Economic Law at the graduate level.

Teresa holds a degree in Law and a master’s degree in European Law (European Competition Law) from the University of Lisbon, Portugal.


Language(s)
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Related

Topic

Competition and consumer protection

Event

Contact

Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (CCPB), Ana Cipriano ([email protected])