In pictures: The spirit of Green Action Week

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According to the United Nations Environment Programme, by 2050 we will need almost threeplanets to provide the natural resources needed to sustain our lifestyles.We urgently need a dramatic shift in our consumption patterns to prevent biodiversity and climate crisis.

This shiftwill require consumers all over the world to makemajor changes to their lives. We can'task them to bear this burden alone. Engaging people at community-level and encouraging cross-sector action will be crucial.

This problem is exacerbatedin lower- and middle-income countries. Not only will the impacts of climate changebe far greater, but support to consumers is more limited, and sustainable alternatives are less affordable and widely available.And with an increasing number of people unable to afford a healthy diet or meet basic needs, the difficult truth is that sustainability is often just not a priority.

That'swhy we are proud to coordinateGreen Action Week. Taking place this week, this annual global week of action aimsto promote sustainable consumptionand reduce povertyin low- and middle-income countries.Through community-led approaches, our Membersdeliver innovative and diversecampaigns to support and empower consumers as they transition to more sustainable ways of living. Their initiativesreach consumers who may be shut out of sustainable lifestyles due to income or other vulnerabilities. They recognisethe barriers people are facing and focus on interventions that make tangible improvementsin their lives.

The pictures shared here capture the spirit and momentum of this year's campaign.

The Yemen Association for Consumer Protection lead specialised training sessions with local farmers to promote safe disposal of pesticides.

A wall of paintings is unveiled at Aap-Le No Otlo- a dedicated day of community, sharing, and sustainability organised by Consumer Education and Research Centre (India). The paintings speak to the importance of everyday choices like recycling, eating plant-based meals, and using reuseable items. They aim to teach young consumers that small actions can make a real difference.

Consumer Voice (India)lead workshops with women in Jahangirpurito provide essential training on proper disposal of e-waste as well as tricks for giving single-use plastics a second life.

At Consumer Education and Research Centre (India)'s sustainability fair, junior eco-warriors from Sheth Amulakh Vidhyalay steal the show with a beautiful dance performance spreading the message of environmental conservation!

TheNetwork for Consumer Protection (Pakistan) educate studentsat NUST university onlegislation to end the sale and use ofsingle-use plastic .

Consumer Council of Fiji speak on national radio about the growing challenge of electronic waste and what consumers can do to reduce their e-waste footprint.