Shrinking Polluted Planet

Shrinking Polluted Planet

The world is shrinking with enhancements in technology, communications, and transportation, as well as an exponential growing population. Many find these improvements a benefit, being able to see a loved one more often or being able to conduct business halfway around the globe. Unfortunately many do not realize that these enhancements are also polluting and slowly devouring our shrinking world. With the world population growing continuously, it wont be long till global society consumes all of Earth’s resources. If everyone on Earth were to live like me, it would take 4.8 Earth’s to provide enough resources for society to function. For me, the vast majority of my ecological footprint consists of services and food, roughly 75 percent. Shelter, mobility, and goods conclude the remaining 25 percent. As a business and environmental studies student, there are multiple implications and necessary actions that should be taken.

In order to reduce my footprint, my first priority should be to focus on the services in my life. In order to do so, my consumption per day must decrease. This includes shopping for food, clothes, school supplies, and more. All of these examples require some form of service, especially transportation, in order to reach the end consumer. I am a very big carnivore, however I should reduce the amount of protein I buy as well as start to buy more locally produced food, even if it does cost a few more pennies. Decreasing the amount of time the lights are turned on and favoring natural light over electrical light can reduce my shelter impact. The furnace can be lowered to save energy and I could take shorter and probably cooler showers to conserve water and reduce heat consumption. I do not use my car too often, but when I do, it’s usually for long trips to the mountains for skiing. Car-pooling would definitely be a plus in reducing my footprint. A major action I can do is buy products with eco-friendly packaging. A lot of waste is a result of plastics from packaging. Multiple