America’s Resource Consumption

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Table of Contents

Abstract
Introduction
Discussion
Consumption Statistics
Effects of High American Consumption
Moral Implications
Recommendation for Changing Consumption Patterns
Conclusion
Works Cited

Abstract

The world population today is 6.5 billion and is expected to reach 9 billion in the next fifty years (Diamond). This may sound scary to many because a rise in population is seen as a challenge. However, it is not really an increase in the number of people that is problematic; it is when their consumption grows. The population of developing countries like India, Pakistan and Kenya is ever-increasing. But this population is not a burden on the whole world because the consumption of these people is less by a huge factor; 32, than the Americans (Diamond).

Introduction

America is a developed, first-world nation. Its population may not grow as fast as those of developing countries, but its consumption of the natural resources keeps rising. Americans make up 20 percent of the world’s total population, yet they consume most of the world’s resources. This idea is unfair to those nations whose populations increase, but with such an increase in the number of people, their consumption remains the same or even decreases because of limited resources.

This paper will start off by studying some trends of the American consumption of resources and comparison to other nations. It will then examine the effects of these trends on the world and discuss the moral side of such a situation. Finally, the paper will provide recommendations as to what can be done to decrease the American consumption along with the gap that exists between the consumption of different nations.

Discussion

As mentioned earlier, it is not the rise in population that is a problem at hand. It is the increase in per capita consumption or the total consumption of a nation. Analysts, researchers, scientists, governments and the general public worries about the rising population in developing countries. They view this rise in population as one of the biggest challenges. It, however, is not a challenge for them. It is a challenge for the people living in these third world countries that have to deal with it every day. With an increase in their family size, their consumption goes down. So how is this problematic for the rest of the world? It certainly is for these families.

Consumption Statistics

An important point to mention here is that in my opinion, the relative per capita consumption is a better measure of consumption as it shows just how much is consumed by an average citizen compared to that of another nation’s citizen. For example, the American relative per capita consumption is 32 while that of Kenya is 1 (Diamond).

A few stats are worth mentioning here so that the readers can see the bigger picture. Starting off with a more general statistic, one billion of the worlds developed population’s (including America’s) relative per capita consumption rate is 32 compared to the other poorer 5.5 billion people’s relative per capita consumption rate of 1 (Diamond). This means that each of the 300 million Americans consume 32 times as much as the people in Kenya (Diamond). This information forces people to change their priorities about the bigger problem at hand – a rise in population versus an increase in consumption. Clearly, the bigger problem is such huge amounts of consumptions by a few people as compared to minimal consumption, necessary for survival, by more people.

Furthermore, the average American buyer is said to buy 53 times as many products than an average Chinese. Also, one American buys as much as 35 Indians buy (“Consumption Statistics”). These stats are frightening and have many moral implications to them. These stats make American sound dramatically unfair to Kenyans and Indians. So how then can we infer that it is these developing nations that are the actual challenges?

These statistics, along with illustrating the lavish consumption of Americans, also shows the gap that exists between the consumption of different nation. This is comically presented in the image below. This gap leads us to the moral side of such a situation. Before, we can talk about these implications, it is important to note the effects that this consumption rate has.

Figure 1. Gap in the consumption of Americans versus developing Nations (Source: Oliver Munday, NY Times)

Effects of High American Consumption

The most obvious effect of the high consumption of Americans is that there is little left for others, especially the 5.5 billion people living in developing countries. If Americans consume 80 percent of the resources, the rest of the world which is 80 percent of the total population is left with 20 percent of the resources. The worst part is that even this 20 percent is not evenly distributed amongst the 80 percent of the non-American population. Other developed countries consume more like American with significantly little left for the others.

To elaborate more on the depletion of resources, it is important to consider the environmental effects that high consumption (and hence, depletion of resources) has. First of all, increased consumption leads to forest degeneration. According to a report by the World Resources Institute, we are losing 12 hectares of forests each year (Tomek). What happens to the eco-system when we lose trees and forests? Logically, it leads to an increase of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere, firstly as a result of burning down forests and secondly because of the fewer trees left to suck the CO2 out of the atmosphere (Tomek).

Also, high consumption causes degeneration of water. It is important to note that in developing countries, water problems are growing increasingly. World Health Organization estimates that around 1.1 billion people do not have access to clean water even for their basic needs while approximately 2.4 billion people are troubled because of a lack of water for sanitation. Water shortages and related problems lead to at least 5 million deaths each year (Nicholas).

Furthermore, if Americans consume so many drainable resources now, there will be little left for future generations, which includes American generations as well. The resources that Americans are consuming- natural gas, oil, coal, etc- are limited. This means that they will deplete at one point or the other, and at this point, there will be little left for the population. This should worry many people, but clearly, we think that technology will solve all problems.

Diamond also talks about the possibility of a correlation between terrorism and a high consumption in developed countries. He states that people are aware of the gap in per capita consumption between developed and developing nation. As a result , it frustrates these people because that have no hope and as a result, they resort to violent activities, today popularly known as terrorism. As long as the factorial difference in consumption remains, developed nations are not safe from terrorist attacks by people mostly thought to be from developing, poorer countries (Diamond).

The ‘American dream’ is about the American lifestyle, buying patterns, luxury, material and extravagant goods, and lavish living (Pearman). This is the dream that most people have those living in developing nations also. Some of these people, as mentioned earlier, seek refuge in terrorist activities while others migrate. They migrate to places like America and China where dreams are big and consumption is high.

The more people move to such countries where the relative per capita consumption rate is high, the more the total consumption of these countries increase. As a consequence of high consumption, attracted emigrants eventually increase the total consumption even more.

There is also an issue of pollution, especially water pollution. Increased consumption means increased production. When goods are produced in factories using resources such as oil and gas and by burning up fossil fuels, pollution in the air is caused. Also, when the waste is dumped into the sea, which it significantly is, water pollution is caused. 142 million tones of air-borne pollution go into the seas, in the US alone (Sean).

It is nearly impossible to ignore economic factors while discussing the negative impacts of high consumption. High consumption leads to an increase the general level of prices, or in economic terms, inflation. High consumption means that people are demanding more goods and services. As a result, the overall demand in the economy is very high and this leads to demand-pull inflation.

Moral Implications

In the previous section, the negative impact of high consumption rates in first-world nation, especially in US, was discussed. Analysis shows that it has negative social, environmental, and economic effects. Hence, there are moral implications of high consumption by Americans because of the numerous downbeat effects along with a lack of motivation to recycle goods.

First of all, it is unethical for Americans and other high consumers to be consuming so much when they are aware of the fact that its ultimate effect will be lesser resources available to everyone else. In other words, the extremely high consumption by Americans implies that they are selfish consumers.

Also, depletion of non-renewable, removable and drainable resources leaves fewer to be used by the future generations. Again, the fact that Americans consume so much without worrying about how their children will consume implies that they are being rather selfish.

Their high consumption has an extremely negative impact on the environment. Americans are aware that their increased business activity causes carbon dioxide in the air, fewer water supplies and pollution. These environmental are global problems and have detrimental effects on the health of others, be it an American or a non-American. In any case, high consumption affects the health the general population.

Finally, as seen earlier, increased consumption of goods and resources causes inflation in an economy. This inflation in the US economy leads to higher prices of capital goods for further production. Therefore, cost push inflation is caused in other economies that buy raw-materials and other capital goods from the US. As a result, the genera; level of prices all over the world increases, and this is quite evident from the recent financial crisis in the US economy and the world over. The moral implication is that people in third world countries who already have less to eat because of higher prices suffer more. Also, it is said that inflation affects not the rich but makes the poor poorer.

Recommendation for Changing Consumption Patterns

Decreasing the consumption rates of the Americans seems like an almost impossible thing to do because it is this consumption that ultimately defines the American Dream. Therefore, the first logical thing for Americans to do is to recycle. Americans are not great recyclers; however, re-using has to be made strict unless Americans wish for their children and the rest of the world to starve. Also countries like Germany have demonstrated just hoe beneficial corporate recycling can be for the economy (Diamond).

What can be done to bridge the gap between the per capita consumption rates of Americans versus third world countries? Diamond suggests that the Americans present consumption rates are highly unsustainable. Eventually, Americans will have to lower their consumption rates than the current high levels (Diamond).

Also there is the option of sustainability. If Americans cannot consume less, at the very least they can consume better. Goods must be manufactures sustainably. Forests must be handled sustainably, and soil must be used sustainably. We must aim for sustainable growth.

Finally, there is a lack a political will (Diamond). Not much can be done to change this because at present the US present focuses on more oil control, terrorism, and hard power. What it fails to understand is the root cause of this problem. What can be done is to elect candidates that strive for sustainability.

Conclusion

Realistically speaking, not much can be done to change the current scenario. It seems highly unlikely for us to sacrifice our living standards, our power, and our consumption rates for the general well-being of others. Recycling seems like the more logical and practical thing to do. What’s more is that poorer people living in third-world countries can pray and hope for a miracle because the situation is vicious and will not get any better any time soon.

Works Cited

“Consumption Statistics” Green Living Tips. 2009.

Diamond, J. “What’s Your Consumption Factor?” New York Times. 2009.

Nicholas, C. “Challenges to Clean Water Worldwide” GeoTimes. (2005)

Pearman, C. “Resource Consumption: US vs. China.” The Epoch Times. 2009. Web.

Sean, M. “To Care for the Earth” Geoffery Chapman. (1989).

Tomek, V. “Environmental Concerns: Degeneration of forests, water, soil; Consumption of resources; Problems caused by waste.” Religious Tolerance.

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