Climate change is the consequence of excessive consumption

Climate change is a reality that has been constantly increasing in recent years, and its impact has already been felt throughout the world. It is a phenomenon that has been caused by multiple factors, but one of the main ones is the excessive consumption that has taken place throughout the world, and especially in the more developed world.

Overconsumption refers to the use of natural resources at a rate faster than they can be replaced and regenerated. This includes the use of fossil fuels (oil and natural gas) for the production of energy and the manufacture of products, as well as the excessive use of non-renewable materials such as plastic, and in general the consumer society in which we are immersed.

Consumption is the engine of the economy, and the increase in demand for goods and services has led to a greater use of natural resources, which in turn has generated an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and therefore of the climate change, with an increase in global temperature.

And we have not all produced this equally, but we have polluted more (and continue to do so) the most developed countries, and we all suffer the consequences, and the poorest have fewer means to combat it and therefore suffer more. Which is a huge injustice.

According to expert data, in 2015 the richest 10% of the population was responsible for 49% of polluting emissions, while the poorest half of the population barely emitted 7%. Which tells us that to reach the desired “net zero” the most effective is to reduce the carbon footprint of the richest.

And let’s not fool ourselves, because “the richest” are the vast majority of those who live in the developed world, consuming as if there is no tomorrow. And worst of all, without being aware of the “PROBLEM” that we are leaving to our descendants.

Meanwhile, the world economy continues to move towards the ecological crisis, and at the same time social inequalities continue to grow. But for now, we’re all still quite happy.

To mitigate climate change quickly, deep social changes are needed, which also reduce economic inequalities. And that is very complex and I don’t see any leader determined to do it, since they are all very clear that they would lose the next elections.

So, being a bit cynical, we have a few years left to talk a lot about the subject, to do rather little, and when serious problems arrive, look for some “culprits” to continue feeling good about ourselves.

Human beings are like that: selfish and focused on the short term.