Using environmentally sound pricing

Moving towards pricing consistent with sustainable development objectives.

There is already some progress in the use of appropriate economic instruments to influence consumer behaviour. These instruments include environmental charges and taxes, deposit/refund systems etc. Agenda 21 recommends that this process should be encouraged in the light of country-specific conditions.

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

1. Using economic instruments for sustainable development
2. Developing national policies to change unsustainable consumption patterns
3. Capturing environmental value
4. Applying standards of pricing

1. Identifying resource pricing distortions arising from environmental programmes

1. Developing investment strategies for national environmental action plans
2. Developing financial strategies for national environmental health action plans

1. Rationalizing pricing policies of state-owned enterprises
2. Assessing implications of resource pricing by exporters

1. Regulating water demand
2. Maximizing local pricing advantage

1. Unsustainable
2. Undeveloped
3. Underpricing
4. Underdevelopment
5. Overpricing
6. Overdevelopment
7. Development