The Negative Effects of Consumerism on Environment - Essay Example

?The Negative Effects of Consumerism on Environment The people in the past were lived in a society of producers; however current people are living ina society of consumers. There are plenty of reasons for this change. Heavy industrialization, development of science and technology and the subsequent changes happened in the life styles and life philosophies of people are some of the major reasons for increased consumerism. There is nothing wrong in transforming our society from the production dimension to consumer dimension if such changes may not cause any harm to our environment. Unfortunately, environmental problems or destruction is directly proportional to the rate of increase of consumerism. In other words, along with the increase in consumerism, increase in environment destruction is also taking place. It is impossible for humankind to survive long if consumerism increases at its present rate. The effects of consumerism on the Earth’s environment are: loss of resources, increased pollution, and loss of energy. This paper analyses the causes of increased consumerism and its effects on environment. Loss of resources is the major effect of increased consumerism. It should be noted that population is growing at alarming rates whereas the available resources in this world are being reduced because of increased consumption. For example, “Producing eight ounces of beef requires 6,600 gallons (25,000 liters) of water” (Mayell). Scarcity of drinking water is a problem everywhere in this world. It should be noted that drinking water resources are exhausting day by day even though the water levels in the sea are gradually rising because of global warming. There are plenty of people in this world who purchase goods just for increasing their social status. Current consumers compare the goods in the hands of their friends, relatives and neighbours with the goods in their own hands and then take purchasing decisions. Such habits results in wastage of resources and over exploitation of resources. Deforestation is taking place rapidly to find enough space for establishing industries. Nobody take care about the fact that trees or forests play an important role in maintaining the global climate suitable to living things. Deforestation results in big climate changes and subsequently the life is this earth may become extremely difficult. Carbon dioxide is harmful to the environment whereas oxygen is good for the environment. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and liberate oxygen to this world. Thus, trees help the environment in maintaining a balance between carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere. Destruction of trees results in increased content of carbon dioxide in atmosphere which is not good for living things. All the living things in this world are interconnected each other in some ways. In other words, the existence or survival of all the living things in this world is necessary for the sustainment of human life. The destructions of animals and birds may affect human life in many ways. For example, snakes are the enemies of rats. Killing or destruction of snakes may result in increased number of rats. Increased number rats means farmers may not get proper yield from their agriculture. In short, snakes are necessary to maintain the number of rats in this world to a particular level. However, climate changes and environmental problems are causing big destruction of animal life. “There was a story in the newspaper saying that 37 percent of species could become extinct due to climate change” (Mayell). Increased pollution is another effect of increased consumerism. Air, water and land pollution are caused by increased consumerism. It is already proved that atmospheric temperature is increasing day by day because of environmental pollutions and increased consumption of resources. Atmospheric temperature rise results in global warming. It would be difficult for mankind to live in this world, if the atmospheric temperature rises at its present rate. Automobile use is increased a lot in recent times. Automobiles liberate greenhouse gases, which are harmful to the environment. These greenhouse gases increases atmospheric temperature and subsequently global warming, sea level rise and climate change like problems may occur. Fresh oxygen is necessary for breathing purposes. However, we are forced to breath polluted oxygen. Thus, lot of germs, dusts, and bacteria entering our body subsequently we may suffer from lot of diseases. Soil pollution is another problem associated with increased consumerism. Farmers were forced to increase agricultural yields to cater the needs of increasing population. In order to increase the yields, they use fertilizers, chemicals, and pesticides in agricultural lands. These harmful things spoil not only the lands but also the drinking water resources such as rivers and streams. Loss of energy is the third problem associated with increased consumerism. Energy crisis is already a big problem even for advanced and developed countries such as America. Heavy industrialization and automobile usages have increased our energy needs. Mayell (2004) pointed out that in China, “by 2000, 5 million cars moved people and goods; the number is expected to reach 24 million by the end of next year. In the United States, there are more cars on the road than licensed drivers”(Mayell). The available energy resources in this world are exhausting rapidly. Moreover, most of the popular energy sources are non-renewable in nature. All these factors point towards the energy crisis we are going to face in near future itself. Coal, petroleum and natural gases are some of the popular energy sources at present. All these energy sources are non-renewable in nature. In other words, none of these energy sources has the ability to renew themselves just like wave, tidal or solar energy. Industrial developments and increased automobile uses result in over exploitation of these energy sources. In my opinion, Consumerism is a global issue and I think people are responsible to avoid this problem. Life may become horrible in future if people fail to take precautionary measures now. Increased consumerism may result in over exploitation of resources, destruction of resources, all kinds of pollution and loss of energy. So people should try to reduce unwanted purchasing behaviours as much as possible to save the present and future generation. Works Cited Mayell, Hillary. “As Consumerism Spreads, Earth Suffers, Study Says.” National Geographic News. 12 January 2004. Read More