Consumption, Resources and the Environment: What you need to know
Introduction!
Hey everybody! Our world is full of resources. Everyone uses resources in their daily lives, whether it's turning on the faucet, eating breakfast, or driving to work. Each of these activities relies on various resources. For example, a car uses gas to run, and our lights require electricity. Our world is complex, but together, we can do our part to minimize our carbon footprint and lessen the consumption of consumers:)
Resources
Resources can be categorized into three main types: renewable and nonrenewable. Renewable resources, such as wood, bamboo, and crops, are replenished within our lifetime. Solar and wind energy are inexhaustible because we can't use them all, and they are often popular renewable energy sources. In contrast, nonrenewable resources, such as natural gas, oil, and diamonds, have existed for millions of years and aren't renewable on human timescales.
Brain Boggler
An interesting fact from the Copper Development Association article is that it takes over 4 tons of copper to create a single wind turbine. A Toyota Camry, for comparison, weighs about 1.5 tons!
A fun tip!
One simple tip to help minimize the impact and consumption of nonrenewable resources is to use reusable bags and other items creatively.
For example, you can store marshmallows in a mason jar!
Carbon Cycle
Another critical aspect of our world is the carbon cycle. However, when we examine the traditional photosynthesis and cellular respiration processes, we only see a small piece of the entire carbon cycle.
Human Carbon Emissions
Carbon emissions from humans within our world are divided into two parts. Firstly, we have direct. We use this directly: driving somewhere, using fossil fuels directly, or running a gas snowblower. We can directly impact these things through walking, public transportation, and less polluting transportation methods!
Indirect Carbon Emissions
However, a significant portion of carbon emissions results from indirect carbon emissions. Indirect carbon covers the production and end-of-life of products. The consumption and manufacturing of infrastructure and products are considered indirect emissions. These are things like making the electricity we use and driving our cars on the roads; those roads needed to be made by something. The process of resource use and energy consumption to complete the tasks is a significant carbon pollutant. Even though we don't directly use these items, they contribute to over 50% of global carbon emissions, as proven by an article by One Click LCA, making it essential to understand and find ways to reduce our impact.
Carbon Impacts on Climate Change
Paying attention to our direct and indirect carbon emissions due to their impact on the environment and climate change is crucial. As our planet warms, weather patterns become more extreme. An article on climate change from NASA states that this will increase water levels, exacerbate storms, and contribute to the frequency and severity of natural disasters.
Final thoughts
It's not all bad news, though. :) We can do amazing things when we work together and pool our efforts. Everything little helps, no matter how small it may seem! Turning off your lights, using the bus to work, and not using your heat when we are gone can all add up. Another tip is to shop locally! It reduces transportation emissions as well, and it can taste fresh! Most importantly, stay friendly:) There is strength in numbers!
Thank you for reading this. We can't change the world without you:)
Work Cited
Over 50% of global emissions from construction & manufacturing | One Click LCA
Extreme Weather | National Climate Assessment
Great Article!! Super interesting information!
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