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Soon it will be Black Friday, the start of the holidays for consumers. The Swedish Consumer Agency has warned about impulsive purchases and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency can claim that consumption is increasing, despite the fact that we live in this decade of the destination where emissions should start to decrease, and that by 7-8 % per year. Attracting binge drinking during a hot climate crisis is immoral and outdated.
This is a sender in Sydöstran. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Christmas shopping is coming soon too. Last year, we bought Christmas presents worth an unimaginable value of SEK 21 billion, which is almost 4% of Sweden’s GDP. To understand the breadth and absurdity of the context, it is worth mentioning that the investment in environment and climate in the budget in 2021 is approximately SEK 10 billion.
Shopping has become a hobby, a comfort, and a reward system. Sweden’s consumption-based emissions are about 10 tons per year, which is crazy if we want to comply with the Paris Agreement.
What really makes us happy? And what does it really matter? By feeling joy for what we have, we can move society away from “Business as usual”. When we produce and consume less, we have more time for other things that are actually more valuable to us as individuals.
But will society collapse if we choose to take off our spending pants? What should people live if we don’t buy? Don’t we have a responsibility to act to contribute to the growth of society? But the truth is that our consumption is costing us the planet! Swedes live as if we had more than 4 globes.
Swedes live as if we had more than 4 globes.
–Friday for the future Karlskrona
We all have the power to move towards a more sustainable world. Every time we open our wallets, or choose not to, we contribute a voice to the world that we want to see more of. In the grocery store, we decide what agriculture should exist, whether we promote biodiversity or impoverish it. When we buy appliances, we can also take responsibility for reducing injustices in the world; We can reduce poverty and refrain from contributing to child labor. We can even decide if we want to contribute to a linear economy where the flow of new resources is not used, or a circular economy in which we benefit from an intelligent use of resources by helping products to be reused, repaired or recycled.
Interest in second-hand purchases is on the rise, especially when it comes to clothing, but for there to be balance, we must at the same time reduce purchases of all new items. During the last 50 years, our well-being has not increased, money and gadgets do not make us happier. A good life doesn’t have to happen at the expense of future generations or other parts of the world. Choose the sustainable society, leaving the “age of shopaholics” and moving to a lifestyle that promotes health with more time for friends, the joy of movement and experiences in nature. Enjoy something hot to drink in a gray November. Rest for a while. Take a deep breath. Lower your shoulders. Slow down.
Welcome to a sustainable world!
Friday for the future Karlskrona
