![]() Of about 8 million plant and animal species, 1 million are likely to be lost in coming years. Humanity is witnessing a great extinction.To date, temperatures have risen by about 1° Celsius and it is undeniable that ecosystems are suffering. Scientists warn that problems will spin out of control if that limit is exceeded. The climate commitments governments have made so far are not anywhere close to what is needed to keep the average temperature increase below 1.5° Celsius.All three trends are dangerous – and they are mutually reinforcing. That is the message of another recent report (UNEP 2021b). Climate change, the loss of biodiversity and pollution are making our planet unlivable. Indeed, the international community is facing a triple environmental crisis. The independent Global Footprint Network reckons that, if the average earthling consumed as much as the average German does, our species would even need three planets. At current trends, humanity will need the equivalent of two earths by 2030 to support consumption patterns. It also means that conservation alone cannot prevent the collapse of ecosystems and biodiversity. Humanity is consuming 1.6 planet’s worth of resources each year.ĭepleting nature at this pace implies not only that our planet is unable to regenerate its resources. A recent publication (UNEP 2021a) highlights the case in point. Nonetheless, an ever-increasing number of shopping malls is mushrooming in the urban areas of developing countries and emerging markets. Our planet’s resources are limited and overexploited. The big problem with consumerism is that it is not environmentally sustainable. In North America and Europe in the 20th century, according to Stearns, private-sector companies managed to boost their production and distribution capacities to an extent that the big challenge they face is creating additional consumer demand to make full use of those capacities. Advertising, peer pressure and the sheer availability of consumer items trigger an unquenchable thirst for more stuff. As Stearns points out, demand for goods is mostly artificial in the sense of not corresponding to fundamental needs. The consumerist way of life is marked by constantly buying things, using them and throwing away what is no longer needed. ![]() ![]() Stearns argues that 20th century capitalism turned persons into consumers. Shopping then becomes very important and, to a large extent, people base their sense of identity on an endless procession of new items they buy. Stearns (2006), a society is consumerist if “many people formulate their goals in life partly through acquiring goods that they clearly do not need for subsistence or for traditional display”. The western model, however, is not sustainable – and especially not when copied globally.Īccording to Peter N. As purchasing power increases in developing countries and emerging markets, consumerism is spreading there too. The emphasis is laid on gratifying spontaneous desires rather than fulfilling basic needs. ![]() Societies of western nations are geared to consuming goods and services. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |