Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production

What is an unsustainable pattern of consumption and production? Any pattern that does not follow UN mandates for micro-managing all endeavors meets the criteria.

This terminology comes directly from the UN Programme:
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/WSSD_POI_PD/English/POIChapter3.htm

From their website:

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Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
III. Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production

"14. Fundamental changes in the way societies produce and consume are indispensable for achieving global sustainable development. All countries should promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, with the developed countries taking the lead and with all countries benefiting from the process, taking into account the Rio principles, including, inter alia, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities as set out in principle 7 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Governments, relevant international organizations, the private sector and all major groups should play an active role in changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns. This would include the actions at all levels set out below.

"15. Encourage and promote the development of a 10-year framework of programmes in support of regional and national initiatives to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production to promote social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems by addressing and, where appropriate, delinking economic growth and environmental degradation through improving efficiency and sustainability in the use of resources and production processes and reducing resource degradation, pollution and waste. All countries should take action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development needs and capabilities of developing countries, through mobilization, from all sources, of financial and technical assistance and capacity-building for developing countries. This would require actions at all levels to:"

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Anyone unfamiliar with the terms for global change should probably take the time to read the rest of what's on the above referenced page.

Wallace Global Fund's 2004 Grants at
http://www.wgf.org/grants04_nat_resources.html
is another good introduction to what it means to change patterns (of government).

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"Natural Resources

"Current patterns of unsustainable consumption and production are irreversibly harming the natural systems that sustain life, exacerbating economic inequalities and threatening human health and the survival of indigenous peoples.

"The Fund seeks initiatives which minimize the risks that current levels of production and consumption pose to the health of people and ecosystems around the world; integrate environmental objectives into public and private economic and policy decisions; strengthen civil society participation in economic and environmental governance; and improve or enforce protection of key environmental resources and biodiversity. Program areas include:"

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What is "strengthen civil society participation in economic and environmental governance?"