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Effects from global warming
Effects from global warming
Effects from global warming
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Global warming has been a big problem of the world for a long time now. There are a lot of contributors to this, from the activities of an individual to the larger group of people; from the daily to occasional activities we do. Thus, the lifestyle of the people is seen as one of the factors. Consumption has been part of one’s daily life. People tend to buy things that they want more so than what they need. Sometimes, they buy the necessary things in large quantities that most of it will just be wasted. However, changing our lifestyles can reduce the worsening effect of global warming; consume sustainable goods, practice anti-consumption, and benefit yourself as well as the environment. Global warming is pandemic, affecting all the lives on …show more content…
The term sustainable consumption meant “level and pattern of consumption, which meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.” It is usually conceded that overconsumption is a pressing threat to the environment (Ozgen 137). Although this may be true, it is not getting more attention from the US government. The policymakers do not see sustainable consumption as compatible to their priorities, which is economic growth (Cohen 408). And it is continued to be prioritized since with increasing consumption, economic growth will be attained (Morse and McNamara …show more content…
Most of the times, our happiness can be associated with the things we consume. According to Van Gelder, there are ways to sustainable happiness. She said that people should drop their self as consumers and focus on something much more such as spending time with family and friends. Labels and brands should not define their self-worth and happiness. Debt can also be minimized. Also, spend some alone time and make a special bond with the environment and avoid consuming products from big companies that are exploiting the natural world. Value the true things that matter and remember that “sustainable happiness is contagious” (121-124). Quality of lives has been better after they turned their backs from consumption (Kennedy, Krahn, and Krogman
1. The main idea is not only that owning stuff is not the key to happiness, it’s also that consumers today own more than they need to thrive which directly impacts the environment. Hill illustrates the environmental impact by showing statistics of global warming today versus the past century, and how consumerism is leading to a hotter climate. Hill debunks claims of buying happiness by discussing a study where stress hormones spike to their highest when people are managing their personal belongings. Hill’s most prominent example that consumerism is not the answer is himself, as he discusses some of the most stressful times of his life being right after coming into a large sum of money and buying whatever he fancied. When Hill concludes his article, he states that “I have less—and enjoy more. My space is small. My life is big” (213).
America’s current standard of living is going to cause our demise. Consumerism is a problem throughout Americans culture since mass production began in the late nineteenth century. The obsession with consumerism has led to mindless wastes of resources, a diseased society and economic instability. Rick Wolff, a professor of economics at University of Massachusetts, states “economics of capitalism spread consumerism—now uncontrolled, ecologically harmful, and fiscally disastrous—throughout the United States”. Wolff’s viewpoint on consumerism aligns with mine. Believing that an economy based on promoting endless consumption is volatile and unsustainable. Consumerism can be analyzed and seen to be embedded by corporations and politicians.
There are two different views on the connection that is found between consumption and environmental policy. The first major connection is the ignorance of buying something that at first seems like it will help out people in so many ways, but ends up hurting the environment in the long run after changes and a changing culture, cars for example (Book Review: The Shadow of Consumption, 1). The other connection that could be made is the connection between researching products and how they are produced and what the companies do with the byproduct after the product has been made. This connection can seem like a strong connection than the ignorant connect because there is a whole other level of research and understanding that goes into understanding the environment and the policies that are changed by the production process.
Webster's dictionary defines consumerism as "the economic theory that a progressively greater consumption of goods is beneficial." today we are surrounded by a culture of things and possessions:a materialistic world.consumption of materialistic goods has encroached upon every sphere of our lives and we don't even realise it.at first products had a value of necessity in our lives.but now they are sign of choice, social status and identification.the more we advance technologically and socialy the more we need products to keep up with the times.but do people really need all the things they buy?consumerism today is all about people feeling the need to buy more and more material goods to attain some sort of satisfaction.
Generational conflicts, political strife, environmental regulations, stakeholders in big oil, and many more hurdles affect the push to fully sustainable economies around the world and even here in America. In a world where coal, oil, and natural gas are limited, countries are gobbling it all up as fast as they can before other poorer countries come on the grid. Even though America and other countries gobble up these resources the life of the people is still a struggle to meet basic needs. Sustainability is an intermingling of resource use and protection of the “quality of life”, it is met by using resources sparingly and by recycling or reducing the use of other non-renewable resources to provide for our immediate need, but also to conserve and protect the needs of the next generation and to improve the quality of all the lives to come.
Global Warming, much of what does or does not happen forty years from now, rests on our actions or inactions taken between now and then. The crucial question is whether we should pour all our resources into mitigation – reducing our carbon emissions. According to scientists who study the climate, there are other environmental problems; “we now face a global crisis in land use and agriculture that could undermine the health, security, and sustainability of our civilization”. Rather than worry too much about emissions, we should accept the world is going to get warmer anyway and adapt to global warming by building better flood defenses and developing drought-resistant crops. We cannot dispute that automobiles, factories, and power plants, displace an unprecedented twenty tons of carbon monoxide per person per year.
...to artificial costs of resources, it is humans that cause it to happen. Not only do these destructions cause global warming, they also put the health of many in danger as the climate often reflects the health of individuals. The gas permitted into the air by hydraulic fracturing and the chemicals from burning forests can all be breathed in and affect one’s health. Even the act of human terrorism, like the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York City, can cause green-house gases to escape into the atmosphere along with other air pollutants. Driving a car also contributes to the quantity of carbon dioxide emitted into the ecosystem. Individuals do not bother to use alternatives because they tend to choose the more convenient way of life. Human activities such as hydraulic fracturing, rice cultivation, fossil fuel burning and deforestation all contributes to global warming.
Every one of us can make his own contribution to make a difference. Steps could be taken at home, at the office, on the road and anywhere else to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gas and any risks made to the climate as much as possible. By taking these steps, you would not only be helping the climate but they can also save you money and improve your health, for example decreasing the use of your car for short distances and instead going by foot. One can also take part in any programmes that are offered on a local or state level to support energy efficiency, or take part in clean energy programs or other climate programmes.
In conclusion, the impact I personally have on the planet has surprised me. My personal ecological footprint is much larger than I expected. However, there are measures I can take to drop my current consumption rate, such as altering my recycling choices, making better purchasing decisions, and adopting the reduce, reuse, and recycle concept throughout my household. By altering my habits and consumption rate, I can affect my local community tremendously in a positive way for the planet Earth.
Thesis Statement: Consumerism is destroying our planet through its excess, but with the help of reducing we may be able to slow the negative change happening in our environment.
Although it is hard to completely erase the damage and negative effects of global climate change, it is never too late to start improving our everyday lives to help benefit the planet we live on. Small changes like a light bulb, installing solar panels on a house, or even recycling a bottle of coke can help reduce the size of individual carbon footprints. It is also beneficial if one has enough money to indulge in an electric car. Perhaps in the future electric cars and biofuels will be the only options for driving creating a healthier planet to live on. In the future, electric cars and solar panels should become more affordable for the average person to purchase since they are currently too pricey.
Today the consumerism plays an extremely important role in contemporary societies; consumerism has carried a part of the planet to the edge of Ecological, social and economic abyss, and every day becomes more evident. But naturally, it goes against a process that has become common in the daily life of people, The consumers need to advise about nature of the products, the value and the consequences of the consumption of certain products in the environment. One of the most creative ways to solve this problem is to minimize consumption of newly manufactured products, either by buying items with a longer shelf life or buying used items, new resources are not used in the manufacturing and industrial pollution and carbon dioxide will be lower. We can Recycling and reusing, also make reasonable use of natural resources, energy, and water, this contribute to the mitigation of climate impacts, will require manufacturers to use more sustainable technologies.
Global heating and cooling has occurred on a cycle for millennia, however in the past thirty years the increased use of energy and fuels by humans has drastically changed this natural occurrence (Juerg, 2007). The largest cause of this warming is the release of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide levels are twenty-five percent higher than they were in 1957 (UCS, 2013). This seemingly insignificant change has caused a myriad of negative effects. The endangerment of species, rising of sea levels, and increased natural disasters are just a few examples of change brought about by global warming (Juerg, 2007). Even though global climate change presents a massive problem there are many proposed solutions to fix or delay it. These theories range from creating a giant sun shield in space to the simple practice of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” (Gray, 2009). However the most effective solution is to find different sources of fuel to power our day to day lives. The earth is in need of renewable, effective, and long lasting fuels. Global warming can be slowed through the use of renewable energy as it is versatile, clean, a good investment, and can easily be put into place in several different climates and environments.
Global warming is one of the most serious issues that the human species face today, yet the majority of the population does not pay attention to it. People are not aware of the dangers and do not care about it much because the main effects will affect the next generation and not themselves. Global warming is happening and it is the reason for changing weather and weather extremes such as earthquakes, floods and wildfires. Global warming is caused by societies lifestyle and these lifestyles destroy the environment and affect the whole world. The use of cars, trains, planes, as well as wasting energy for people’s entertainment has a price; this price is that society is in danger.
One of the most substantial problems in the world today is global warming. This gradual warming of the earth is in occurrence at an extremely slow rate but it is happening. Many scientists believe that as human’s work and release greenhouse gases into the earth’s atmosphere, it can become dangerous for the long lasting life of humans and our environment. “Unless we take immediate action, the impacts of global warming will continue to intensify, grow ever more costly and damaging, and increasingly affect the entire planet - including you, your community, and your family” (“Global Warming Impacts”). Everyone should be knowledgeable about global warming and the dangers that it brings to our planet. This essay will examine