The Task of Living a Sustainable Lifestyle Is the Responsibility of the Individual - Essay Example

People should be able to stock up the natural resources. They can do it naturally by not overusing them. Having defined the basic concept of sustainable living, let’s now plunge deeper into the matter, giving special importance to the concept of carbon footprint.

“A carbon footprint is a term used to describe a person's, family's, or company's impact on the environment around them” (Audet 2012, para.1). It involves the measurement of CO2 that we release in the atmosphere through our routine activities on daily basis. This CO2 is one of the greenhouse gases that are causing global warming. When we say that the task of living a sustainable lifestyle is the responsibility of the individual, we mean by this that it is the responsibility of every individual to be aware of his carbon footprint (Cambridgeshire Horizons 2011), and every person should take steps to minimize his carbon footprint (Amberlinks 2012, para.1-2), to make the environment go green (Blue 2012, para.1). Hence, it is not the responsibility of governments and NGOs to reduce people’s carbon footprints. When an individual is aware of this fact, he will make informed decisions to lessen his negative impact on the environment. To make such decisions, the individual must first be aware of what impact his presence on the earth is creating on the environment. This awareness motivates individuals to be in charge of things that they can control so that those things which they cannot be in charge of do not become destructive to their sustainable living.

There are many principles that outline the ethical values associated with sustainable living. Individuals hold the responsibility to use natural resources just as needed. They must use one resource on a multi-functional basis, like using one thing for many purposes. They must be able to fulfill their needs in more than one way. They must use the productivity of the system to fulfill the requirements of other parts of the system. They must reproduce things in a way that is not destructive to nature. They must be resilient in their needs. When they have used their required resources, they should give the surplus to those who require them. These are some of the ethical principles that must be considered when individuals carry out their responsibility of achieving a sustainable lifestyle.

Potential attainment also requires that individuals carry out measures that reduce their impact on the system. It is known that “The average American family of 2 generates about 41,500 lbs of emissions per year” (Audet 2012, para.3). This calculation has been done by web page calculators that calculate carbon footprints. By knowing this calculation, one can make educated decisions about how to minimize his negative impact. Another thing that we can do in this context makes changes in energy efficiency. These changes are inexpensive, and thus convenient. For example, if we lower the thermostat by two degrees in winter, and make it go up by two degrees in summer, we “can save as much as 2,000 lbs of carbon emissions and add up to nearly $100.00 a year in savings” (Audet 2012, para.4). We can also use energy savers that save lots of money and reduce the emission of CO2 in the atmosphere. These little changes that we can bring to energy efficiency can guarantee our sustainable living. Other important changes that individuals can bring to their lifestyle, and that minimize carbon footprint are: bringing changes in diet; choosing public transport; choosing vehicles that give good gas mileage; and, using paper or cloth bags instead of plastic bags.

To conclude, it is individuals’ duty to make sure that their lifestyle is according to sustainable living standards. It is not the responsibility of governments, corporations, and NGOs. It is the job of the individuals to leave plastic bags and adopt paper bags, travel through public transport, opt for good mileage cars, drive less, shop less, and consume fruits and vegetables instead of eating fatty foods that bring diseases. These are personal choices and decisions that are not in the control of higher authorities but are under the control of the individual himself. Hence, if individuals are not willing to take steps toward sustainable living, governments and other organizations can do nothing to make better the relationship between people and their environment.