Ethical consumerism can be a powerful force for societal and environmental change but we Irish are less enthusiastic than other Europeans, writes Peter Ireton.
The findings of last week's research published by Deloitte on consumer Christmas spending levels show that Irish households will spend an average of €1,431 on Christmas this year, representing an increase of 6.9 per cent on the 2006 figures and thus positioning Ireland at the top of Europe's consumer spending league.
According to the survey, almost half this figure - €720 - will be spent on gifts. The research also shows that while 65 per cent of European consumers surveyed said they would be willing to pay more for an ethical product, only 35 per cent of Irish people surveyed admitted a similar inclination towards ethical purchasing.
Once a minority trend, ethical consumerism, or conscious spending as it is sometimes known, has become a powerful force for societal and environmental change throughout the developing world. Even though Irish consumers have been slower than our European neighbours to move towards ethical purchasing, the fair trade movement is estimated to be worth €10 million annually in Ireland.
In recent years, as environmental issues have come increasingly to the fore in the public consciousness, there has been a renewed focus on climate change and carbon emissions. Climate change poses a serious threat to development and poverty reduction and its effects will be felt most directly by the world's poorest people, living in the world's least developed countries, who are most heavily reliant on the natural environment for their livelihoods.
A recent report commissioned by the Poverty-Environment Partnership - a network of more than 30 international development and environment organisations - estimates that $60-90 billion per year will be required to address the environmental issues that bear most directly on poverty reduction in developing countries.
An increasing challenge for charities and multilateral agencies is to ensure that their work in the developing world is environmentally sustainable, illustrated by the decision this year by the United Nations to set up the millennium development goals (MDG) carbon facility, a mechanism to develop and commercialise emission-reduction projects in developing countries.
Recent innovations have meant the possibility of promoting environmental protection in the developing world by offsetting carbon emissions in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way is now a real choice. As yet, carbon offsetting remains a choice for individuals to take up if they wish.
However, while the idea of a carbon credit card and restricted annual allowances for individuals buying domestic fuel and petrol at the pumps might still seem somewhat far off, it may come sooner than we think.
Investing in sustainable projects with a renewable energy focus in the developing world is one small, yet significant, way for people to offset their carbon emissions.
Bóthar is one of several charities that provide consumers and corporate donors with the opportunity to contribute to these and similar projects, with an approach to development co-operation that is simple, practical and sustainable.
If we can each take up the challenge to carry some small element of this awareness into our Christmas shopping basket, by committing as little as one-tenth of our overall gift spending towards an ethical or environmental gift this year, we can each tangibly contribute towards poverty reduction and environmental protection in the developing world.
Peter Ireton is chief executive of Bóthar, the Irish charity that specialises in the provision of livestock, training in animal care and sustainable farming practices to communities in the developing world. For more information see www.bothar.org