Council of Europe works to support state actions in incorporating human rights and environmental protection into business operations across public and private sector directly contributing to the achievement of SDG12. A Workshop on "Implementing human rights and environmental due diligence" was organised in December 2022 in the framework of the CDDH 97th meeting, enabling to discuss notably the Committee of Ministers’ CM/Rec(2016)3 on human rights and business and CM/Rec(2022)20 on human rights and the protection of the environment, as well as the role of the Council of Europe in ensuring a meaningful dialogue with business enterprises and stakeholders. Work is continuing on these matters both at the intergovernmental/standard-setting level (including in CDDH-ENV) and through co-operation activities. A cooperation project “Human Rights and Environmentally Responsible Business Practices” is aimed at (i) supporting states to develop/improve their policy frameworks, (ii) enhancing access to justice through strengthening institutions, and raising awareness on the available judicial and non-judicial remedies for the victims of the human rights violations caused by business operations and (iii) empowering businesses to conduct thorough human rights and environmental due diligence. The project’s actions are envisaged in 4 directions:(1) Knowledge organisation and exchange, including modernisation of the online platform for Human Rights and Business  in order to consolidate key resources of the Council of Europe related to the subject, case law of the European Court of Human Rights and international standards. (2) Capacity building, including update of HELP course on Business and Human Rights. (3) Legal analysis and practical tools update or development, as well as (4) awareness-raising campaigns.

The Council of Europe Landscape Convention (ETS No. 176) supports the overall principles of sustainable development and responsible management of resources, and it encourages integrating these principles into policy sectors which influence landscapes. It encourages that all landscape policies and actions be taken with a forward-looking, sustainable approach, ensuring the well-being of current and future generations. The connection to Goal 12 is indirect and focused on the effects of consumption and production on landscapes rather than on specific sustainable consumption and production measures.

Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation CM/Rec(2021)9 on Landscape and responsibility of stakeholders for sustainable and harmonious development addresses Goal 12 both by explicitly referencing it and by promoting policy integration that contributes to sustainable consumption and production patterns.

The Department for the Implementation of Human Rights, Justice and Legal Co-operation Standards contributes to SDG 12 by supporting member states, businesses and stakeholders in aligning economic activity with sustainable consumption and production, grounded in human rights and environmental protection through its co-operation programmes. A key co-operation initiative is the Human Rights and Environmentally Responsible Business Practices, which reinforces due diligence of the production supply chains through dialogues with businesses at various events organised under the project and special training and awareness-raising tools for businesses.

To further support implementation and cooperation, the Council of Europe has launched an online Human Rights and Business Platform that consolidates national expertise, frameworks and actions on human rights and business. The platform enables businesses and other stakeholders to share tools, good practices and relevant standards that foster sustainable and responsible business conduct and human rights due diligence in production supply chains.

According to the Committee of Ministers Resolution CM/Res(2013)66 , Article 1§1 and Article 1§2, the Enlarged Partial Agreement (EPA) on Cultural Routes  is tasked with fostering sustainable cross-border tourism and contributing to the development of a sustainable tourism offer based on Cultural Routes, thereby supporting the objectives of SDG 12 as regards the tourism sector.

In relation to Target 12.A on developing and implementing tools to monitor sustainable tourism, cultural routes are subject to certification criteria, regular evaluation procedures and periodic re-certification, as foreseen by CM/Res(2023)2, Section IV, to demonstrate continued compliance with the objective of sustainable tourism development.

The 14th Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe underlined that Routes should strengthen tourism intelligence, collecting and sharing data on visitor flows and community needs, and commission research on tourism’s positive and negative impacts to inform adaptive management, directly supporting Target 12.A. The Forum also recommended encouraging businesses operating on Cultural Routes to adopt recognised green certification schemes, to invest in improving local environments and community wellbeing, to build sustainable tourism products based on local resources, and to support innovative projects that combine creativity and sustainability, such as the upcycling of certain waste materials for the production of traditional crafts. These measures directly support reducing waste generation (Target 12.5), promoting organisational adoption of sustainable practices and sustainability reporting (Target 12.6), and encouraging sustainable management and use of natural resources (Target 12.2).

The Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 2611 (2025) on “Analysis and guidelines for a sustainable and socially fair energy transition” urged member States to involve citizens and municipalities in the shaping and implementation of local energy partnerships, in order to empower them as “prosumers” (producers-consumers).

The approach of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is based on three key principles: achieving SDGs is the shared responsibility of all levels of government; local and regional authorities must have the necessary competences and financial autonomy to achieve the goals in their respective areas; citizens must always remain at the heart of the action.

For the sustainability of our societies, it is important to ensure resource efficiency, access to basic services and a good quality of life for all. Congress contributes to the economic, environmental, social and competitive development of cities, which must opt for sustainable consumption and production.

The Congress adopted the following texts in relation to SDG 12:

•  REC 529 (2025) and RES 511 (2025) - Water resources under stress: towards better local and regional governance
• REC 528 (2025) - The role of local and regional authorities in protecting and promoting social rights and fostering social development

• REC 512 (2024) and RES 503 (2024) - Fostering a circular economy at local and regional levels
• REC 511 (2024) - The UN Pact for the Future: The essential role of local and regional authorities in global sustainable development
• RES 500 (2024) and REC 510 (2024) - Local and regional responses to natural disasters and climate hazards: from risk preparedness to resilience

This page reflects recent and ongoing developments in the activities of the Council of Europe towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The Council’s historical activities in this area have been archived.