We must reduce super-sized appetites
Some economists believe we can innovate our way out of the global problem of carbon emissions, but Boston College professor Juliet Schor says what we really need to do is go on a consumer diet.
Boston College professor of sociology Juliet Schor is also an "occasional economist" and co-editor of Sustainable Planet: Solutions for the 21st Century. (Boston College)
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TEXT OF COMMENTARY
Bob Moon: Of course, as Janet mentioned, the idea that it's OK to trash the planet is not exactly something to be encouraged, even if we could zap our garbage into thin air -- and especially if all you're left with in the end is thin air.
For commentator Juliet Schor, it's the sheer volume of what we're consuming that's creating such a big problem.
Juliet Schor: Global consumerism devours resources like there's no tomorrow and unless we address how much we consume, we won't succeed in averting disastrous climate change.
Consider this: Per-capita GDP has more than doubled since scientists first identified rising temperatures and ecological limits back in the 1970s. Now, technological fixes have to deliver twice the environmental benefits just to keep pace. They aren't. For example: More fuel-efficient cars are offset by more vehicles on the road and more miles driven. Gains in residential energy efficiency have been wiped out by bigger houses and more power-hungry appliances.
This "volume problem" besets other parts of the consumer economy, too. Plummeting prices at stores such as Wal-Mart and Ikea have caused a buying explosion in clothes, furniture, appliances and consumer electronics.
How big an explosion? Per capita, we're purchasing almost twice as many clothes as we did in 1991. The volume of furniture, measured in pounds, has more than doubled in just seven years. In fact, households are buying almost everything at rates far higher than a decade ago, from food to glassware to sporting goods. And all those products put carbon in the atmosphere as they are produced, shipped, used and discarded. Counting on technology to overcome the surge in what industrial ecologists call "material throughput" requires magical thinking. It may go over well in economics textbooks but falters in the real world. So let's not kid ourselves: We can only become sustainable by tackling the incessant growth in consumption that drives our economy. That'll require green taxes, smarter regulation and new, less super-sized lifestyles.
Moon: Juliet Schor is a professor of sociology at Boston College. She's also a founder of the group New American Dream.
Comments
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From Farmington Hills, MI, 09/02/2008
One only needs to look at the closest dollar store or big box store like Walmart to see how much we overproduce and import. Much of the products sold in the U.S. is virtually uneccessary garbage that companies have squandered precious resources on in order to manufacture them. Much of these useless products are made out of plastic. Don't worry so much about your dehumidifier; it's all this ridiculous crap that people waste their money on when they could be spending the money on important things like food, gas, and education.
From San Jose, CA, 07/30/2008
I am very glad to see someone in an authority position willing to tell us that we need to consume less. Of all of the suggestions that I have thus far heard, I have heard very few people talk about changing our living habits. You should be in politics.
From Rockville, MD, 07/08/2008
Ms. Schor says, "scientists first identified rising temperatures ... back in the 1970s." Perhaps some did, but the consensus view of climate scientists in the 1970s was that the threat was not global warming, but global cooling.
Dale Larson
From charflottesville, VA, 07/05/2008
I applaud Marketplace for airing the commentary by Juliet Schor on our need to curb consumerism in order to avert global climate change (and other environmental disasters). As exemplified by the later conversation with Robert Bryson regarding energy interdependence (in which conservation was not mentioned), reduction in consumption is the elephant in the room: to reduce consumption would reduce growth, which would hurt our Economy. As long as infinite growth is the basis of our economy, we will continue to consume unsustainably, with manufacturers and developers producing for maximum short-term gain. The proliferation of cheap goods has real environmental and social costs which are currently displaced to other countries or to future generations. Try this as an excercise in environmental stewardship: make one day per week Buy Nothing Day. It may be more difficult than you think, but it would very probably have a greater impact than trading your Outback for a Prius.
From Hershey, PA, 07/04/2008
The best way to save this planet is to get rid of all the ridiculous bleeding heart Liberals who continue to create more ways to Tax and regulate us to death, while they destroy the economy, as well as the best Country on the face of the planet. This whole Green/Carbon initiative is riddled with bogus science, misinformation and greedy political liars who have a personal financial stake in it... Can you say "Al Gore" Ship them all off to the country of their choosing or better still use them to fill in all the potholes in our roads and highways... They would be more useful that way!!!!!!!!!!!
From Madison, WI, 07/04/2008
Although I agree with Juliet Shor, how can we buy less when consumer goods are made with planned obsolescence. Example: I had a dehumidifier for 20 years, I replaced it 2 years ago. The new dehumidifier is broken. It will cost me 75% of the price a new one to have it repaired. I am disgusted, but have no alternative. There do not appear to be any higher quality, longer lasting models available. I hope the new one lasts a little longer.
Mary Savage
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