Say, who’s going to put a check on it? Will Corporate Knights’ (they’re pretty Woke) Jennifer Ellen Good tell us?
How unchecked consumerism helps drive climate change
As extreme weather events in Canada and around the world are linked to human-made climate change, there is one story that continues to be left out: the connection between climate change and the products we purchase.
Recent research shows that across a product’s life cycle — from raw material extraction through manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal — the total embedded carbon emissions are 6.3 times the product’s weight. Interestingly, it is the product’s supply chain, or what we do not see related to making and distributing products, that is especially carbon intensive.
In the context of human history, the changes to our relationship with the material world have happened in the blink of an eye. Our ancestors lived in direct connection with the land that physically and spiritually sustained them.
Only in very recent human history have so many of us lived our lives at such a great distance from that which sustains us. Today, unchecked consumerism is helping drive a changing climate that is very much affecting all people.
Lots of whining about buying too much for the holidays, and people should make an effort to buy less. Nag nag nag.
We must challenge stories that encourage fast and “cheap” consumption and demand the telling of — and share — stories that accurately link our copious consumption to the devastating effects of climate change. We must elect leaders who will do the hard work of transitioning away from an endless growth economy based on the excessive consumption of monetarily cheap but planet-expensive products. We must demand vital product information such as life cycle carbon footprints. And we must all commit to resisting the constant appeals to consume fast and cheap, by giving less stuff, more slowly and thoughtfully.
Who’s this we? And who’s going to enforce this? Oh, right, the elected leaders who will implement laws. Jennifer doesn’t want to quite come out and say that government must force this change. That could make a few climate cult disciples a bit nervous.
Consumerism is sometimes the only meaningful part of life for some people.
Say Teach how is that new high end sound bar working ? Are you happy with it?