Decolonization Series: The 3 C’s of Ecological Collapse - Carbon, Capitalism, and Unruly Consumption
by Lauren Ballesteros-Watanabe | Reading time: 4.5 minutes
The connection between climate destabilization and capitalism has been highlighted throughout this decolonization series. Now we are spotlighting an integral piece of this mix: consumption, which, of course, goes hand in hand with production. Both are driving forces of the global economy — resting on the use of the natural environment and resources in a way that continues to have destructive impacts on the planet.
A few facts and figures from the United Nations:
Each year, an estimated one-third of all food produced ends up rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers, or spoiling due to poor transportation and harvesting practices.
Land degradation, declining soil fertility, unsustainable water use, overfishing and marine environment degradation are all lessening the ability of the natural resource base to supply food.
Humankind is polluting water in rivers and lakes faster than nature can recycle and purify.
Households consume 29 percent of global energy and consequently contribute to 21 percent of resultant CO2 emissions.
Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, the equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles.
The status quo of unsustainable growth has to end. Even as generations of environmentalists seek lifestyles centered around sustainability, the truth is that it is increasingly difficult to make sustainable choices, especially when weighing the cost of doing so. Radical systemic change for all aspects of our economy is key. If inequality of consumption is recognized as the major obstacle to tackling the climate crisis, then the conversation would be different.
Carbonization is driven by consumption. The more we consume, the more carbon we create. Current mainstream efforts attempt to make energy production less carbon intensive with different energy sources through developing zero carbon technologies that substitute for fossil fuels. However, this is a profoundly colonial framework that ignores the relentless growth in consumption in the current energy system. It still extracts and exploits with grievous impacts to biodiversity, the pollution of the natural environment, and the degradation of the “commons” through unsustainable human consumption and production patterns.
To prevent global ecological collapse, consumption must be reduced. Yet the path to renewables as it currently is, permits existing high consumers (typically the wealthy of the Global North) to maintain their consumption levels and allows yesterday's oil barons to be tomorrow’s low-carbon billionaires. Meanwhile the majority of humans across the globe continue to be denied their basic needs. For example, our global food system contributes a quarter of total carbon emissions. Yet poor people and countries still need access to nutrient rich, pesticide free food at affordable prices.
Equitable consumption and production patterns must be fostered to truly solve ecological collapse. We are currently consuming more resources than ever, exceeding the planet’s capacity for generation. In the meantime, waste and pollution grows, and the gap between rich and poor is widening. Health, education, equity and empowerment are all adversely affected.
Sustainable Consumption and Production (known as SCP) is about doing more and better with less. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles. Sustainable consumption and production refers to “the use of services and related products, which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as the emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardize the needs of future generations.” -UNITED NATIONS, Sustainable Development Goals.
Crucially, SCP can contribute substantially to poverty alleviation, equity, environmental justice, and the transition towards low-carbon and regenerative “green” economies.
The Big Shift to Regionalism
As the old adage says, “think global, act local.” Ecological collapse is a global issue, yet it has become increasingly clear that the greatest shift we can make is to circular economies that support community-based systems. The circular economy keeps materials and products in circulation for as long as possible through practices such as reuse of products, sharing of underused assets, repairing, recycling and remanufacturing. It also works to restore natural systems, designing out waste, and substituting non-renewable materials with biological and renewable ones like bioplastics. Whereas the current linear model is characterized by degradation of natural resources, extreme waste, and missed opportunities to retain the value of materials and products. But the impact of a circular economy at a global scale is unclear, which is why there should be an equally intentional shift to regional economies to close the gap between systems operations and the people it serves and impacts.
Hawaiʻi has had its fair share of efforts to localize our economy and major industries like tourism for decades. But it wasn’t until COVID’s economic and social impacts, which gave a shocking snapshot of how vulnerable our island communities are to global disruption, has there been a more urgent need to build a circular economy rooted in values of aloha ʻāina. In our next mālama we will uncover and explore some truly remarkable on the ground shifts taking place throughout our islands in circular economies, job creation, and generative practices. If one thing is clear, true climate resilience must include a localized resilient circular economy that supports the well-being of one another and our natural environment over profits.