SW News 19

The consumption conundrum

Over the last year, our collective understanding of climate change has become more sophisticated and mature. Putting aside judgement on the actual level of action happening on the ground, it’s fair to say that the conversation, at least, has moved on.

Yet despite this progress there is one fundamental issue that we are all still skirting around. It’s the elephant in the room, the big ‘C’ word: CONSUMPTION. 

Consumption, or over-consumption to be more exact, is the root cause not only of the climate crisis but of all the other inter-connected environmental problems we face – the biodiversity crisis, deforestation, plastic pollution and so on. The simple fact is, we are making, buying, using and throwing away too much stuff. It’s keeping us locked in an upwards trajectory of ever increasing greenhouse gas emissions. 

Decarbonising our energy system and switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy will of course help massively in bringing the emissions curve down. But it will only deliver around 50% of the reduction we need. The rest needs to come from changing the way we produce and consume stuff. 

Confronting and challenging our need for stuff is not an easy thing to do. It raises uncomfortable questions for us: 

As individuals - do I need all this stuff? 

As businesses - can we still make money if we flog less stuff? 

As governments - can we measure economic success by something other than GDP and growth? 

Many ideas and concepts for solving the consumption conundrum exist – the circular economy and doughnut economics to name just two. But given that consuming stuff is so central to our current model of business and economics and even our perception of ourselves (we are consumers first, citizens second), re-evaluating our relationship with stuff is going to require us to dig deep and really challenge our mindsets. 

In 2022, we expect this issue of consumption to move centre stage in the climate conversation. It's absolutely vital that it does. 

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