Enviromental issues

Task: Write a reflective essay which comments on the following statement about anthropogenic climate change:
…de-carbonization of the economy and human life will only be achievable if current consumption patterns, methods and lifestyles are also subject to profound change. Consumption in general needs to become more de-materialized and de-carbonized, as well as determined by appropriate and more conscious purchasing decisions. According to a recent UNEP global survey on sustainable lifestyles, “creating sustainable lifestyles means rethinking our ways of living, how we buy and what we consume but, it is not only that. It also means rethinking how we organize our daily life, altering the way we socialize, exchange, share, educate and build identities. It is about transforming our societies towards more equity and living in balance with our natural environment” (UNEP, 2011)
This paragraph encapsulates an underlying theme in the course: whether the present generation will choose to limit their GHG emissions and will adjust their lifestyle sufficiently so that future generations will be able to have a lifestyle at all.
This is a broad theme which can be discussed in multiple ways and from different cultural perspectives; to get you thinking here are just a few of the points you may wish to touch on (but there are many other approaches as well):
– What does the science say about future growth in emissions and mean global temperature change or sea level rise?
– What are the likely CC-related ecosystem impacts and how are these environmental costs currently factored into the CC debate?
– What are the obstacles to de-carbonizing the world economy?
– How are developed and developing economies (North-South) inter-connected?
– Are technological fixes (geo-engineering, renewables, nuclear) a likely solution?
– What determines societal consumption patterns and how are these changing ?
– How does society currently perceive and measure ‘prosperity’ – by economic measures, personal happiness or health of the biosphere?
– Given world population growth can each generation claim the right to inherit the same diversity in natural and cultural resources enjoyed by previous generations and to equitable access to the use and benefits of these resources?
– What role does social justice play in the CC debate, in a world where many millions already live in extreme poverty and without the basics?
– Do you feel the present generation can achieve an ‘acceptable level of GHG emissions’ or are we on a path that will inevitably have possibly dire repercussions for future generations?
– Do we really have a choice, or has the die already been cast by inertia in the climate system and socioeconomic inequity in the global economy?
– Are there signs of positive transformative change in the way humans interact with and adapt to a changing biosphere – is society taking the problem seriously – are we making plans to mitigate or adapt to CC?

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