2. Write a short note on commoditization and patterns of consumption.
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live in poverty. It will only get worse as the world’s population is expected to grow to a peak of at least 9 billion sometime this century.
Population and Consumption
Population
If you accept that humans are causing climate change and habitat loss then one of the biggest issues we face is population growth.
In October 2011 the world population reached 7 billion. The world’s population in 1967, just 44 years previously, was half that: 3.5 billion. Even though the rate of increase has almost halved since growth rates reached their peak of 2.2% in 1963 it is still 1.14% (or more than 75,000,000 people) per year.
Many experts predict that the world’s population will crest at some time in the 21st century due to the ongoing decrease in birth rates. Projections are difficult because of the number of unknown variables such as famine, disease and war. Climate change catastrophes – such as sea level rises, droughts, flooding and other extreme weather events will also have an impact. However a ‘peak’ figure of over 9 billion people has been estimated.
It is arguable that the world can’t sustain 7 million people let alone 9 billion. But population numbers aren’t the only problem.
Changes in patterns of consumption may have an even greater effect than population increase. As populous countries such as China and India become more industrialised they will consume more energy and other resources. If China had the same per capita carbon emission as New Zealand they would produce over 11 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (compared to the 3.5 billion tonnes that they actually produce) which would increase the total world carbon dioxide emissions from 24.1 billion tonnes to over 31.6 billion tonnes (using 2002 figures published by the UN). And even if China caught up with New Zealand’s rate of emission they would still be far behind that of the US, Canada and Australia.
Consumption
Why household consumption matters
The way we consume has both direct and indirect impacts on the environment.
Household consumption forms an important part of the production-consumption chain as it is consumers who make the final choice as to which goods and services to buy. Even though the environmental pressures caused by each household are relatively small compared to those caused by production activities, the 1.5 million households in New Zealand combined are a major contributor to environmental problems such as climate change, air and water pollution, land use and waste generation.
For example, the use of energy in our homes and our dependence on cars are causing air pollution and increased emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that lead to climate change. Also, we are creating more and more waste from household activities. But in addition to those and other direct effects, consumption also indirectly leads to environmental impacts from the production, processing and transportation of the goods we consume.
Population and Consumption
Population
If you accept that humans are causing climate change and habitat loss then one of the biggest issues we face is population growth.
In October 2011 the world population reached 7 billion. The world’s population in 1967, just 44 years previously, was half that: 3.5 billion. Even though the rate of increase has almost halved since growth rates reached their peak of 2.2% in 1963 it is still 1.14% (or more than 75,000,000 people) per year.
Many experts predict that the world’s population will crest at some time in the 21st century due to the ongoing decrease in birth rates. Projections are difficult because of the number of unknown variables such as famine, disease and war. Climate change catastrophes – such as sea level rises, droughts, flooding and other extreme weather events will also have an impact. However a ‘peak’ figure of over 9 billion people has been estimated.
It is arguable that the world can’t sustain 7 million people let alone 9 billion. But population numbers aren’t the only problem.
Changes in patterns of consumption may have an even greater effect than population increase. As populous countries such as China and India become more industrialised they will consume more energy and other resources. If China had the same per capita carbon emission as New Zealand they would produce over 11 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (compared to the 3.5 billion tonnes that they actually produce) which would increase the total world carbon dioxide emissions from 24.1 billion tonnes to over 31.6 billion tonnes (using 2002 figures published by the UN). And even if China caught up with New Zealand’s rate of emission they would still be far behind that of the US, Canada and Australia.
Consumption
Why household consumption matters
The way we consume has both direct and indirect impacts on the environment.
Household consumption forms an important part of the production-consumption chain as it is consumers who make the final choice as to which goods and services to buy. Even though the environmental pressures caused by each household are relatively small compared to those caused by production activities, the 1.5 million households in New Zealand combined are a major contributor to environmental problems such as climate change, air and water pollution, land use and waste generation.
For example, the use of energy in our homes and our dependence on cars are causing air pollution and increased emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that lead to climate change. Also, we are creating more and more waste from household activities. But in addition to those and other direct effects, consumption also indirectly leads to environmental impacts from the production, processing and transportation of the goods we consume.
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