Consumption & the problem of unsustainable living

A working definition of consumption

Consumption results from the use of materials from the earth's crust and the creation of any output deposited in the confined area of the earth's surface that cannot be quickly absorbed within the biosphere. Consumption takes resources out of the biosphere's system and is, by definition, unsustainable.

The problem in a nutshell

1. We dig material out of the Earth's crust to turn into products for our own use and eventually we decide that we have no further use for them.
2. However, some of these discarded products are dangerous for us and cannot be absorbed by the biosphere.
3. We rely on the biosphere to survive but our waste is reducing its capacity to be of benefit to us.
4. Examples of our waste products that accumulate in the biosphere:

• On land - nuclear waste, industrial slag, plastics (e.g. bags), tins & bottles
• In water - heavy metals, industrial chemicals (e.g. oil spills), pesticides, detergents, fertilisers
• In the air - nerve gasses (including pesticides), industrial gasses (e.g. sulphur & acid rain), CFC, carbon dioxide
• Energy - warfare, industrial & domestic processes

Why it affect you - the consequences of our way of life

1. Energy, trapped by a climate thickened by our waste gasses (e.g. carbon dioxide), is creating a more volatile climate (not just global warming but potential loss of Gulf Stream - so local cooling) - leading to the cost of damage (e.g. flooding) and the climate change levy
2. Running out of space for our waste (e.g. filling hole the size of Lake Windermere every year) - leading to taxes and restrictions on landfill
3. Health affects - increase in respiratory diseases (e.g. asthma) and cost to NHS etc
4. Raw materials run out ( leaving problems) and new extraction sites are opened (creating problems)
5. Long-term effect - destruction of our species (by choking?) within a couple of generations
6. Living on our children's inheritance (i.e. our generation's bio-debt)

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