Global impacts of overconsumption Flashcards
(22 cards)
What does the Anthropocene concept highlight about human impacts on the Earth System?
- All Earth System components (climate, ecosystems, chemistry, aerosols, GHGs) interact in non-linear, complex ways
- Anthropocene = humans as a geophysical force on par with natural forces
- Reflects how human activity is pushing Earth beyond stable boundaries
- Originally a geological concept, now also a cultural and political symbol
- Emblematic of humanity’s destructive role in destabilizing the Earth System
What are the deeper historical roots of the Anthropocene?
-
Ancient fire use & hunting
→ Early human ecosystem disruption (megafauna extinctions, altered landscapes) -
Origins & spread of agriculture
→ Large-scale land-use change, deforestation, soil degradation -
European colonisation
→ Massive increase in resource extraction, commodification of people and nature -
Industrial Revolution
→ Shift to fossil fuel energy, mechanisation, pollution -
Great Acceleration (post-1950)
→ Rapid economic globalisation, population growth, consumption surge, planetary boundary transgressions
Why does history matter when understanding and addressing environmental crises like the Anthropocene?
-Attribution
→ Identify root causes of environmental degradation (e.g. colonialism, industrialisation)
- Mitigation
→ Informs what solutions are needed and how past systems must be changed
- Responsibility
→ Clarifies who should lead efforts, based on historical contributions to the crisis (e.g. Global North vs South)
History reveals long-term patterns, power imbalances, and the legacy effects shaping today’s inequities = enabling equitable and effective action
What were the key features and impacts of the British Industrial Revolution (c. 1800 AD)?
- Fossil fuel-powered machinery replaced human/animal labour → increased production
- Shift from rural agriculture to industrial manufacturing economies
- Triggered mass urbanisation – people moved to cities for factory work
- Population growth due to improved sanitation & healthcare
- Sheffield was a key hub → known for Atlas Steel & Iron Works
Marked a turning point in the Anthropocene due to fossil fuel dependence
How have global fossil fuel use and emissions changed over time, and who are the major contributors?
- Industrialisation globally driven by fossil fuel use (coal, oil, gas)
- Historically, US & Europe dominated global CO₂ emissions
- Now, China is the largest coal consumer and emitter overall
- US remains the largest oil consumer
- Emission patterns reflect historical vs. current stages of development
Raises questions of historical responsibility vs. current accountability in climate policy
How has the UK’s transition to a post-industrial economy affected its CO₂ emissions, and how does this compare globally?
- UK & other rich nations have shifted to service-based economies
- Led to de-industrialisation → sharp decline in CO₂ emissions
Supported by mitigation policies:
- Renewables = 36.8% of electricity
- Ongoing decarbonisation of the national grid
- Closure of final coal power station (Ratcliffe-on-Soar)
Global contrast:
- China & India still building coal power stations
- But recent signs of decline in new coal suggest shifting trends
Why is India building new coal power stations while the UK is closing them?
UK context:
- Industrialised early (18–19th c.) using cheap fossil fuels
- Now transitioning to net zero by 2050 (Tory policy, 2019)
- Closing coal plants
- Emissions have declined
India context:
- Still in earlier industrialisation phase
- Emissions have doubled, but still ½ of UK’s per capita
- Emissions curve resembles UK’s 19th c. industrial rise
- Argues that rich nations used fossil fuels to develop, now India should be allowed the same path
- Committed to net zero by 2070
Key issue: Historical responsibility vs. current development needs
Who has contributed the most to global CO₂ emissions historically?
- Cumulative emissions (1751–2017) reflect long-term impact
- Early industrialised nations = major contributors
- North America, Europe, Japan, Australia
- Together account for ~66% (two-thirds) of global total
- Why it matters: Cumulative GHG emissions drive long-term warming, not just annual emissions
What is the Great Acceleration, and what drove it?
- Post-WWII global boom led by today’s wealthy nations
Driven by:
- Cheap fossil fuels (esp. oil)
- Abundant natural resources
- Farmland expansion
Rapid rise in:
- Consumer capitalism
- CO₂ emissions tied to GDP
- Helped form a capitalist world economic system
Some argue we live in the Capitalocene, not just Anthropocene
Energy use ↔ wealth correlation
Give some stats about global wealth inequality
- Richest 0.7% control 46% of global wealth
- Richest 30% control 97% of global wealth
- Only 8% of people globally have < $10,000 in household wealth
- 92% of UK households fall above this $10,000 threshold
Highlights deep inequality in economic power and responsibility
How are CO₂ emissions distributed across global income groups?
- Wealthiest 1% = same CO₂ emissions as poorest 66% (Oxfam, 2023)
- Avg. American emits more CO₂ in 4 days than a person in Ethiopia, Uganda, or Malawi emits in a year
- Emissions tied to wealth & consumption, not population size
- Highlights climate injustice in global emissions responsibility
How does urbanisation affect energy use?
- Urbanisation increases per capita energy consumption
- Cities drive ~80% of global GDP and consume over 70% of global energy
- Economic productivity → more resource & energy use
What is the relationship between urbanisation, wealth, and emissions?
- wealth ↑ = CO₂ emissions ↑
- The wealthiest 10% are responsible for nearly 50% of global emissions
- High-income urban residents consume more energy than rural or low-income ones
How recent is global urbanisation?
- Urbanisation accelerated during the Industrial Revolution
- In 1950, ~30% of people lived in cities
- In 2020, it was 56%, projected to reach ~70% by 2050
How has global trade changed since WWII?
- Huge increase in international trade
- = due to new international institutions, shift from protectionism, tech advancements in transportation and communication
- World merchandise exports grew 260× from $59 billion (1948) to $15 trillion (2016)
- Driven by global supply chains and consumer demand
- Shifted from the Global North to China, now increasingly to lower-income Global South countries
- Driven by lower labour and environmental standards
- Reflects search for cheaper production
What are the equity concerns in current global trade?
- Unequal wealth distribution creates power imbalances
- Rich nations dominate trade rules, poorer countries lack leverage
- Environmental damage also unequal
- Can be seen as neocolonialism – modern echo of colonial exploitation
What is environmental damage embodied in global trade?
- Environmental harm occurs across complex global supply chains
- Example: Car manufacturing involves bauxite mining in Brazil → aluminum production in China (energy-intensive) → manufacturing in Germany → global sale
- Models calculate embodied emissions for products to assess true environmental impact
- Corporations use these to measure Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (electricity), and Scope 3 (embodied) emissions
Shows how consumption in one country drives environmental damage in others
How does international trade contribute to environmental impacts being ‘outsourced’?
- Large portion (10–70%) of environmental damage happens away from consumption sites
- Production often occurs in less developed countries with higher ecological intensity
- This outsourcing increases total environmental impacts globally
- Up to 1/3 of CO2 emissions are embedded in traded goods
Why is it challenging to mitigate environmental damage in global supply chains, and how can it be addressed?
- Global supply chains are complex, involving multiple countries and stages
- Difficult to regulate production, trade, manufacturing, and consumption comprehensively
- Example: Palm oil industry sig affects Indonesia and Malaysia
- Mitigation relies on government regulations on production and manufacturing
- Consumer action and pressure groups play key roles in pushing for stronger regulations and corporate accountability
Why is China considered a net exporter of CO2, and what does this imply for emissions reduction?
- Emissions embodied in Chinese exports exceed those of Japan or Germany
- China relies heavily on coal-based energy, causing high emissions per economic output
- Emissions concentrated in specific provinces and industries
- Targeted policies in these areas could significantly reduce overall emissions
What is the significance of China’s 2013 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in relation to CO2 emissions and ‘carbon leakage’?
Aims:
- Invests in infastructure across Asia and Africa (e.g oads, railways, telecoms, energy pipelines, ports)
- Expand trade routes (revives Silk Road) with China as the central hub
CO2:
- Chinese export emissions peaked in 2008, declining since the global financial crisis
- BRI is a net exporter of emissions via international trade
- ‘carbon leakage’ of emissions shifting to other countries: observed from China and India to Southeast Asia, West Asia, and Africa e.g Vietnam and Bangladesh
- BRI nations account for 50% of global CO2 emissions and a 92% increase over 20 years
How do India’s and Nigeria’s arguments for development despite environmental costs mirror each other?
- Both argue that historical inequalities justify their right to develop, even if it increases emissions or environmental damage.
- India claims it should be allowed to industrialize like Western nations did in the 19th century, since it has lower per capita emissions and needs to fight poverty.
- Nigeria argues it should exploit its oil reserves to finance development, despite economic instability and environmental harm.
Both appeal to climate justice and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) “common but differentiated responsibilities”, though India is diversifying energy sources, while Nigeria remains heavily oil-dependent.
