Consumers International

26/04/2024

Plastic pollution could be reduced by 80% with the right policy & market shifts, according to
UN Environment Programme

Consumers are increasingly willing to become part of that change – but commitments are needed from government & business.

Over halfway through negotiations in Ottawa, we're encouraged to see promising discussions taking place, though a critical few days lie ahead to turn talk into action.

26/04/2024

📸 Bringing the consumer view to the 26th World Energy Congress 📸



We are all consumers of energy services, and we all have the potential to drive forward the transition to clean energy. But although action from consumers will be critical to reaching net zero - consumers still face real challenges - from to to .https://www.consumersinternational.org/media/439164/final-empowering-consumer-action-snapshot.pdf

We leave after a week of action-oriented discussion, asking the challenging questions on behalf of consumers. Like what steps we need to take to genuinely empower consumers. And how we build business models that support consumers' demands for energy efficiency.

⚡ Our work on energy: https://www.consumersinternational.org/what-we-do/clean-energy-futures/

26/04/2024

📣Fair Digital Finance Accelerator grants: Deadline to apply extended to Thursday 2 May. 📣

Last year, we supported consumer associations in low- & middle-income countries to:

🔢Scale original consumer data collection & insights
❓ Build innovative consumer complaints & dispute systems
🗣️Advance strategic policy & stakeholder advocacy

Check out the projects here: https://www.consumersinternational.org/news-resources/news/releases/eight-fair-digital-finance-accelerator-2023-grants-awarded-to-consumers-international-members/

Feel inspired? Apply today: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.consumersinternational.org%2Fmedia%2F529517%2Ffair-digital-finance-accelerator-subgrant-application-form-2024-final.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK

Eight Fair Digital Finance Accelerator 2023 grants awarded to Consumers International Members

26/04/2024

Did you know that women comprise 54% of all unbanked adults?

📚Our is training consumer associations in 60+ countries to help address gender gaps in financial consumer protection.

Explore: https://tinyurl.com/yjdvvamf

25/04/2024

Who pays for the energy transition?

🌎 The average annual need for climate finance in 2030 will be $9 trillion, according to Climate Policy Initiative

There is no such thing as a quick, cheap or easy energy transition. Transforming energy systems is not simply a case of swapping out old technology for new. The full costs to society involve consideration of price, cost, and affordability - both the ability and the willingness to pay. What's certain? We need to ensure that the costs of the transition are not borne by those who can afford them the least.

🎙 Today at the 26th World Energy Council hashtag , our Director General Helena Leurent moderated 'Who Pays? Managing the full costs to society of energy transition'.

We are honoured to have brought the voice of consumer advocates from around the world to this essential discussion on humanising the energy transition.

Explore our work on energy: https://www.consumersinternational.org/what-we-do/clean-energy-futures/

23/04/2024

🥁 Applications are now open for the .

This annual grant scheme aims to promote sustainable development & reduce poverty by encouraging .

Last year, we supported 27 of our Members to carry out diverse projects such as 🥦 promoting food security in Lebanon and supporting consumers through 📈 rising energy prices in Kenya.

🔗Find out more & apply: https://www.consumersinternational.org/what-we-do/sustainable-consumption/green-action-fund/

This annual award promotes worldwide awareness and advocacy activities to encourage sustainable patterns of consumption.

23/04/2024

This week marks a critical moment to .🌊🌍🗑️

Our team is on the ground at to advise negotiators on a Treaty which prioritises & safeguards .

🔗Catch updates via our live blog:

Consumer advocates call for ambitious global action against plastic pollution

23/04/2024

Can we trust AI Chatbots❓

AI is changing how millions of us experience the online world. Within just five days of the release of ChatGPT one million had use the technology.

shone a light on the murky side of AI across misinformation, bias and verifiability issues. And in the lead up to the campaign we ran an experiment with 35 of our Members to focus on these issues in AI chatbots.

Today we reveal results from our work which found:
1️⃣ Chatbots fall short on basic trustworthiness. For example, the likelihood that responses use citations was just 50%.
2️⃣ Basic safeguards vary across chatbots. Take health advice - many offered this whilst advising not to.

What solutions can we offer ❓

We outline four core priority areas for decision-makers, developers and others to see market transformation, better standards, inclusion and redress. We assess the legislation and business practice out there, and how consumer protection frameworks can help.

For a deeper view, read on ▶ www.consumersinternational.org/news-resources/news/releases/can-we-trust-ai-chatbots-results-revealed-from-our-experiment/

19/04/2024

The global issues we face cannot be solved by one sector alone.

This week, we joined the Global Inclusive Growth Summit, hosted by Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, a gathering of global leaders, policy-makers and innovators. As we sought to address today's most pressing challenges, all roads pointed towards greater cross-sector collaboration.

We also heard a recurrent call for a strengthened consumer voice. From helping the most vulnerable protect their pensions, to empowering rural women through financial inclusion. Time and again, we heard leaders express the need for co-created spaces where the consumer is seen and their voice is heard.

Learn more: https://news.mstr.cd/49exNwa

19/04/2024

🗣️Calling all members of the Fair Digital Finance Accelerator.

Our grant programme is helping to build a safe, sustainable & inclusive digital finance marketplace in low- and middle-income countries.

Apply by Friday 26 April 👉https://tinyurl.com/yjd6jwym