Consumer society and climate change
Basic things like clean air, water, food, shelter and clothing are vital to our survival. However, in an effort to make our lives more comfortable, we consume much more than we need. As our consumption increases, so does our impact on the environment. With current levels of consumption, we have reached the capacity of the Earth. This means that we produce more waste than the Earth can absorb. This has resulted in air and water pollution, food and drinking water shortages and climate change.
Consumer demand is a heavy burden on natural resources, and manufacturing of goods contributes to air, water and soil pollution:
- We consume new products and divices, such as mobile phones, TVs and computers. All products are made from raw materials that must be extracted, transported and turned into the products we own. The entire production chain uses energy, produces greenhouse gas emissions and generates huge amounts of waste.
- We consume processed foods, meat and fish. Food consumption has increased significantly in the recent decades. Today we consume more than we need and this leads to obesity, including for children and young people. Food requires production, processing and packaging. Excessive consumption in general, as well as the consumption of processed foods in particular, leads to excessive deforestation, waste accumulation and greenhouse gas emissions.
- We use electricity by heating our homes in winter or cooling them in summer using a variety of appliances. Energy production has a huge impact on environment and climate.
- We need fuel and energy while traveling. We use transport to get to school, work, leisure and holidays. The transport of passengers and goods leads to damage to the environment and is the cause for the release of huge amounts of greenhouse gases.
- As a result of consumption, we generate waste. Municipal waste is only a small part of the total waste generated as a result of household consumption. Waste is produced within the extraction of raw materials and within the manufacturing of products.
- As a result of consumption, we cause air pollution as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Air is polluted as a result of the production of goods, energy and transport. Air pollution affects all living creatures on Earth, and greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of climate change.
- By the use of fuesl we have become the cause of water pollution. Households pollute water through the sewage system. Water pollutants are also the industry generating wastewater, and agricultural holdings using fertilizers and producing excessive amounts of organic waste.
It is obvious that households have an extremely strong impact on the environment. Studies show that only energy consumption in the housing sector and personal transport are responsible for about 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions in developed countries, while indirect emissions related to the consumption of food, water, goods and services have even more great contribution.
There are no prospects for changing consumer trends in the near future. However, more and more citizens are realizing that moderate consumption and less waste contribute to reducing environmental pollution. Through their daily consumer choices in shops and supermarkets, citizens can influence different sectors of the economy. Recent sociological research shows an increase in environmental awareness in parallel with the increase in household income.
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