Overconsumption is a heavy-weight problem, but just like with any problem we need to think more complexly about it. One of my favorite parts about studying ecology is that you view things through a lens of connectedness. We are all connected. While this has many positives, there are also negatives. Each problem we face can have overarching effects. That’s why we must problem-solve through this same lens when talking about conservation.
We know there’s an overconsumption problem. We overconsume resources and create waste through a linear consumerist system. But what overarching effects could this issue have? Simply put, overconsumption has created a waste and pollution problem that has led to climate issues. We created an industrial waste problem that influences the quality of life on our planet. Overconsumption creates more problems than meets the eye, there’s more to this story. To what extent do our overconsumption habits affect the environment? Let’s talk about it.
Overconsumption leads to:
- Air pollution.
- Water pollution.
- Land pollution.
- Harm to living things.
Air pollution:
Our problem of overconsumption firstly damages air quality. The main form of air pollution that stems from overconsumption is greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat, thus creating an environment like a greenhouse. A huge driving force behind climate issues is greenhouse gases.
Industry inherently produces a lot of emissions. This encompasses material collection, processing, distribution, and disposal. Although all these steps count as consequences of overconsumption, one of the more impactful consequences of overconsumption is from disposal.
If we are consuming resources at an unsustainable rate, then we’re left with mounds of discarded products because things aren’t meant to last. Waste disposal methods and increasing rates of disposal from our linear system have created a landfill problem. When we need to get rid of things there are a couple of waste disposal options. Two of those options are open-air landfills and enclosed landfills.
Plastic, one of the most prevalent forms of waste, emits greenhouse gases indefinitely. When you put a bunch of plastic in an open-air landfill it can disperse greenhouse gases unrestrictedly. The toxic air is dispersed by wind and can lead to acid rain, visibility issues, and warm the planet. Enclosed landfills are no better. Although the waste is buried and shouldn’t unrestrictedly spread emissions, the reality can be far more dangerous. Without oxygen, plastics can’t break down at all so the emissions potential is limitless. The gas still finds a way out of the ground too and leads to the same issues as the open-air landfills but due to built-up volatile gas, it also has the potential to explode and cause great harm.
Water pollution:
Overconsumption also brings about water pollution. Overconsumption pollutes bodies of water both physically and chemically. This is a huge problem; we need water to survive! This makes water a global issue so dealing with water pollution is a top priority. Plus, water pollution also contributes to climate issues by having many trickle-down effects.
Physical pollutants, like plastic, enter waterways easily due to improper waste management and disposal. Plastic breaks down into smaller bits of plastic called microplastics that circulate in our waterways. These persist in our environment and have widespread effects; one huge effect being the very presence of these harmful substances. We have even created trash islands in the ocean due to this problem!
Plastic can also chemically pollute waterways too. Plastic additives for example leach into water due to weathering. Water is also chemically polluted due to our waste problems. If the wrong method of underground disposal is used, those materials have the chance to contaminate groundwater. Industry waste also commonly finds its way into bodies of water, and these hazardous materials can persist in an ecosystem, damaging it the whole time, for a very long time.
Land pollution:
Finally, overconsumption pollutes the land too. Just like with water, land can be physically and chemically polluted. Land pollution does more harm to us upfront because it’s easier to see the effects of this type of pollution.
Landfills contribute to air and water pollution but also to land pollution too. Physical land pollution can be seen in the form of landfills, littering, and mining for materials to use for industry. Furthermore, enclosed landfills can lead to sinkholes from decomposing waste. We are altering the physical landscape substantially and if we continue to overconsume there will be nothing left but wasteland.
Chemical pollution of land, on the other hand, can have even more damaging effects. Soil quality is affected by chemicals that are used for and are byproducts of industry. Chemical pollution of soil leads to decreased soil fertility which in turn affects agriculture. This pollution can also find its way into waterways or harm people and animals through direct exposure to these chemicals.
Harm to living things:
Our linear system of consumption has caused a myriad of problems, like the ones mentioned above, but one consequence that stems from those problems is general harm to living things. The result of the air, water, and land pollution caused by overconsumption is a decline in the health of plants, animals, and us.
Physical pollutants can either ensnare or get eaten by animals. Debris can get lodged in or around them either causing disease or suffocation or by causing malnutrition which leads to starvation. There are huge numbers of animal deaths associated with this and it’s easier to track because you can see it. Aquatic wildlife is being especially harmed by this type of pollution and it has led to rapid declines in populations of many species.
Plastic pollutants can also spread disease by allowing microbes to colonize. Contaminated waterways also can be a death sentence. Chemicals leaching into soils can decimate plant communities and consequently harm the animals that relied on those plants. Animals that encounter chemical pollutants are also at risk because these materials are major health hazards. The fact is that essentially any form of pollution negatively affects health and biodiversity. We are seeing large-scale extinction events due to the waste and pollution problems we have created from our unsustainable industrial practices.
The resulting biodiversity loss is bad enough, but what we are inadvertently doing to our health is just as terrifying. Issues with air pollution can lead to respiratory issues, like asthma and lung cancer. Water pollution worsens disease outbreaks, and gastrointestinal issues, and harms reproductive and immune systems. Land pollution can cause skin irritations, and cancer, and limits agricultural yields. We need access to clean water, air, and land!
Is there any solution?
Our overconsumption problems are connected to climate change and there’s no way around that. Large-scale we need better waste management. We also need to shift to a circular economy and make more things recyclable, compostable, or reusable. We must find a way to prevent this waste problem from having irreversible consequences.
We need to acknowledge the overarching effects of our overconsumption; we must shift priorities! Looking into ways we as individuals can empower ourselves and help ease the problems that come from overconsumption is truly necessary. A minimalist or low-impact lifestyle would be impactful ways we as individuals can help. But, overall, we must be committed to learning more and doing better.