Opinion Analysis by Roa Daher, Staff Writer

July 15th, 2020

When thinking about climate change, the public tends to flock around ideas that involve changing patterns of consumption by doing things like buying fair trade coffee or electric cars. While I’m not discounting the potential effects of these actions, there is a conversation to be had about the way we think about how the prevalent consumerist culture contributes to climate change and other devastating environmental effects. There seems to be a missing link between the idea of climate change and consumption that makes people think that consuming differentlyrather than consuming less is the answer.

 Consumerist culture has been on the rise for decades, but the advent of social media has really accelerated its diffusion. It can be seen in the increasing number of influencers, who use their platform to advertise for brands and offer discount codes that encourage individuals to buy products, and it can be seen in the immense number of targeted ads on social media platforms like Instagram. Under present-day capitalism, we are being told day-in and day-out that the only thing that can bring happiness is the consumption of, more often than not, material items. But in order to really understand how and why this culture has become widespread, it’s important to think about who really benefits from this encouraged excessive consumption. Who benefits when the concept of “retail therapy” is popularised? Who benefits from the thousands of clothing items bought daily from fast fashion websites? 

Obviously, the answer is corporations. Consumerism’s growing popularity translates into increased profits for corporations which, incidentally, are very harmful to the planet. In fact, research shows that just 100 companies are responsible for 71% of cumulative greenhouse emissions. Therefore, it seems that profitability and climate change action are at odds. Capitalism is failing, not only people, but also the environment at large. The same system that largely created the climate crisis cannot fix it. As long as profit is the sole goal of corporations, the environment will suffer. While many claim not to care about the environment and the millions of species occupying the planet alongside us, it might be helpful to remember that humans are actually a part of the environment that will also be negatively affected. Additionally, the consequences of the climate crisis will render entire regions of the globe uninhabitable which will create the biggest refugee crisis in history. Much like what is currently happening with the pandemic, the poorest in society will suffer the devastating consequences of climate change while the rich and affluent seek the life-saving shelter they can afford. 

Even though the relationship between climate change and capitalism may be clear on an ideological level when consumption is factored into the equation, there is also a historical context surrounding the topic. The earliest records of scientists understanding the relationship between fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions go all the way back to 1957 when scientists working for Humble Oil (now called Exxon Mobil) published a paper about carbon sinks. In 1968, the American Petroleum Institute published a report supporting the earlier findings of a positive correlation between climate change and CO2 and warning about some of the devastating effects we are currently facing like the warming of the Arctic. The late 70s and 80s saw Exxon Mobil become more intensely aware of climate change and their contributing role while simultaneously backing climate deniers and casting light on the claimed “scientific uncertainties” regarding the role of greenhouse gases in climate change. Even though Exxon had started to defund some climate deniers in 2008, the funding of others continues to this day. Exxon Mobil knew about the harm that their fossil fuels did to the environment more than 50 years ago, and yet nothing was done. The extraction and refinement of oil continued as profits, and the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, soared year after year. In 1968, the global CO2 concentration was 323ppm, while today it stands at 416ppm with no sign of it decreasing any time soon. June of 2020 saw the highest temperatures ever recorded in the Arctic Circle.

Despite the COVID-19 crisis, there does not seem to be a significant enough long-term reduction in carbon emissions as climate change is not being mitigated effectively enough for a change to be seen. 

Making more environmentally-conscious choices about your personal consumption is certainly commendable and essential, despite the massive role corporations play in exacerbating climate change. However, it is even more important to reduce your consumption. Try to minimise the number of purchases from fast fashion companies and seek out alternatives like buying second-hand clothing or investing in items with a long life. Exchange clothing with friends if you can. When possible, buy from local farmers and support all kinds of local businesses. Buy items only when you have to and be mindful when doing so. Consume less and different.

The next time you’re tempted to buy something you don’t necessarily need or even want, remember that happiness from material items is short-lived. Consumerism is not the solution: it is a problem created by capitalism to boost profits at the expense of everything else.