Human Patterns of Consumption and the Environment - Essay Example

?Human Patterns of Consumption and the Environment Modern day human patterns of consumption have recently garnered a concerned attention not only from environmental movements and organizations, but also from business corporations, social-civic groups and even government agencies. What was once a problem overlooked by everyone is now a matter of concern recognized by many various societies around the world. Ropke (2005) observed that during the 1970s the contributions on consumption in an environmental perspective were few and isolated, but, at least, some more practical and specific research emerged (p.2). As time went by, and environmental problems ensued, people could no longer just give a blind eye. As Emerald (2004) said “the effects of all of this are that individuals are caught in a cycle of acquisition, leading to the creation and maintenance of a false - self, and a continuance of economic policies that further depletion of our natural resources and the spread of pollution, and ultimately, an erosion of our spiritual connections with nature” (p.22). It has come to the attention of many environmentalist groups that many of the natural disasters occurring this age could have been avoided if it were not for the unrestrained nature of human patterns of consumption. Human consumption has many factors that are to be considered with regards to its effects with nature. Perhaps the most pivotal among these factors is the development of human system of economics. The human spirit is one of continuing enterprise, and this could be viewed in how human economies developed to globalization and consumerism. As the world got more connected, the culture of commercialization and consumerism spread throughout the world. Imhoff, Bounoua, Ricketts, Loucks, Harriss and Lawrence (2004) indicated that “human populations clearly are not limited to consuming the products of local photosynthesis since regional and global trade transports these products widely, such that the environmental impacts of human consumption are partly realized far from where products are actually consumed” (p.872). As human patterns of consumption increases, so did the human economic enterprises. Globalization and consumerism became the leading culture in the world today. It can be said that consumerism would be the new spirit of contemporary human culture. There is always the demand to satisfy more wants and needs as the world is more interconnected than before. This is being done with little regard to its negative effects towards nature. Muradian (2004) observed: The very nature of environmental impacts may vary from industrialized (most of them located in temperate areas) to developing countries (many of them located in tropical and biodiversity-rich areas). For instance, while soybean may be cultivated both in Brazil and the U.S., the environmental consequences of soybean expansion are quite different in these countries. Current trade-related soybean expansion into the Brazilian Amazon (in part to cover a booming Chinese demand) may produce permanent and significant biodiversity loss, while the environmental impacts of American soybean production is mainly associated with the use of agrochemicals (p.6). As industrialization and commercialization develops and progresses to satisfy human consumption, so does the increase of human population and habitation are to be expected. The unchecked expansion of urbanized zones also has negative effects towards the environment. Stein (2009) posited that “increasing home sizes as well as increases in the amount of appliances and IT products being used mean more coal-fired power plant construction and higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions while the increase in landfills and biomass burning from growing disposal of goods has increased CH4 emissions (p.47). These resulted to sudden climate changes around the world and also due the effects of global warming. Nordhaus (2007) wrote that “the discoveries about abrupt climate change have led to concerns that there may be grave or even catastrophic implications of the magnitude of climate changes that are being triggered by the current trajectory of emissions” (p.116). Such negative developments already resulted to so much damage to the environment that its harmful effects have already added to the worrying problems of governments around the world. Environmental scientists, environmental advocates and other green movements began to have a stronger voice in the face of the looming environmental troubles due to global warming. A growing awareness for a change of human culture towards nature was the most resonant message. Environmental ethics suddenly took a stand to challenge the culture of consumerism. Environmental ethics suddenly took a stand to challenge the culture of consumerism. As Petersen (2007) noted: Ecologists believe that, apart from humans and animals, we should also be concerned with nature for its own sake. Biocentrism (life-centred-ethics) implies that only living organisms have inherent value.Ecocentrism (earth-centred ethics) implies, roughly speaking, that entities such as rainforests, rivers and mountains have inherent value. Some ecocentrists believe that the whole biosphere has value (p.3). Behind all the spiritual and philosophical discussion in protecting nature, however, is a more pragmatic and realistic messages that environmentalist press hard on. The more damage is done to the environment, the greater chances for environmental disasters to occur. Unlikely storms such as Hurricane Katrina that hit a few years ago in the Southern US are an example. Due to global warming, tropical storms have gotten stronger as hotter air causes an increase of evaporation of seawater. This results to heavier and more powerful typhoons to be created. The damage caused by such environmental disasters has proven to be costly on human lives and infrastructure. It has then been an issue for government agencies and business corporations to enact and enforce policies that are more environmentally friendly. Many methods can be done for governments and businesses to conserve the environment while meeting out the needs of the human population. Recycling has been commonly believed as a good and viable option. As Harris (1997) explained Recycled materials generally useless energy and have less environmental impact, but require more labor… However, this can be at best only a part of the solution. The most resource-efficient economy will eventually be overwhelmed by the high material demands of a world population growing toward eight or ten billion people, unless more sweeping alternatives to the mass consumer lifestyle evolve. (p.275) Another idea governments can do is by encouraging its societies to be better stewards of the environment. A well-liked approach to promoting people to be more environmentally conscious is by enlightening the population through environmental awareness. While information is critical and is often sufficient to promote somebody to do something, it is now and again not adequate. People may become informed but not motivated enough to act. For such cases, objective facts such as the slow disappearance of species and ecosystems may not work. Although, a more charismatic presentation through art works of any kind may just do the trick. As Schaefer (2006) said, “environmental stewardship plays an important role in creating wildlife habitat in cities where people see firsthand the need for restoration and will themselves enjoy immediate benefits” (p.2). A transformation in the mindset of human behavioral patterns is indispensable for environmental conservation. An exemplary method is to educate the younger generations in various educational and socio-civic institutions about the importance of the environment and scarcity of the world’s natural resources. The knowledge that the Earth’s resources are very limited and the need to take account for them warily will develop and instill more prudent habits. This initial conditioning can have a remarkable result on a receptive mind and will facilitate and create a younger generation of more environmentally friendly people. References Emerald, N.D. (2004). Consumerism, nature, and the human spirit. (Unpublished dissertation). Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University, Virginia. Harris, J. (1997). Consumption and the environment. In N.R. Goodwin, F. Ackerman and D. Kiron (Ed.) The Consumer Society (pp.270-296). Washington DC: Island Press. Imhoff, M.L., Bounoua, L., Ricketts, T., Loucks, C., Harriss, R,M and Lawrence. W.T (2004). Global patterns in human consumption of net primary production. Nature, 429, pp.870-873. Muradian, R. (2004). Economic globalisation and the environment. Tilburg: Tilburg University Development Research Institute. Nicolaisen, J., Dean, A., and Hoeller, P. (1991). Economics and the environment: a survey of issued and policy options. OECD Economic Studies, 16, pp. 8-14. Nordhaus, William. (2007). The challenge of global warming: economic models and environmental policy. New Haven: Yale University Petersen, T.S. (2007). Environmental ethics. A Companion to the Philosophy of Technology. New Jersey: Blackwell. Ropke. I. (2005). Consumption in ecological economics. Internet Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics. Denmark: Technical University of Denmark. Schaefer, Valentin. (2006). Science, stewardship, and spirituality: the human body as a model for ecological restoration. Restoration Ecology, 14(1), pp. 1-3. Stein, K. (2009). Understanding consumption and environmental change in China: a cross-national comparison of consumer patterns. Human Ecology Review, 16(1), pp.41-49 Read More