Pros And Disadvantages Of Sustainable Consumption

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Consumption – Boon or Bane for Sustainable Development Challenges
Introduction
Exploitation of resources has been a major part of human sustenance. Consumption is necessary to sustain life on earth. Air, water, food, shelter and other resources are needed by people in order to survive. Nature provides enough resources for every person. However, the problem arises when people start consuming these resources in excess. As can be seen in Figure 1, the consumption of energy has gone up from around 100 Exajoules in the year 1960 to more than 500 Exajoules in the year 2000. This is an example of the fact that the demand for resources is rising at a fast pace. Excessive consumption takes place when humans start consuming the quantities of goods and services that are beyond the boundaries of needs. Excessive consumption is considered fair enough and natural by people due to the consumption culture surrounding them. At times, commodities and services are purchased to showcase power and wealth. Also, consumers get attracted by advertisements and feel that it is right to consume all that they want to. All these factors shape the present consumer culture. In order to understand consumption by humans, it needs to be viewed from different angles. The aim of this essay is to explain whether consumption is a problem or a solution to sustainable …show more content…

An example of this is the introduction of the term ‘sustainable consumption’ at the Rio Earth Summit. There are other initiatives taken to promote sustainable consumption like the initiative taken by the Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production. It is also clear that the consumer cannot solve the problem of over consumption alone. Many other bodies like producers and the state need to make efforts to promote sustainable consumption. A good change is only possible when there is communication and understanding among these

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