Do we Consume too Much

1
Do we Consume too Much?

• Mark Sagoff

2
The Problem

• Some claim that the environmental problem is
  over-consumption in the North not overpopulation
  in the south. They say that the economy cant
  grow forever on a finite planet. In addition a
  good life does not need to include getting lots
  of stuff, enjoying nature is valuable which
  requires us to protect nature and we have both
  moral and religious reasons for doing so.

3
One Attempt at Diagnosis

• the most common reason people cite for
  preservation is that we are running out of
  resources. But, Sagoff thinks this claims is
  mistaken.

4
We arent running out of raw materials.

• Predictions have consistently been wrong about
  food energy and materials shortages. Rather than
  rising prices, prices have fallen and people now
  predict that we have decades of non-renewable
  resources left to use.  

5
There are Three Reasons

• improving technology for getting resources
• new resources (and uses/resources substitutions)
  have been found.
• improved efficiency resources reductions per
  unit of output are less in many areas and should
  continue to decrease

6
We arent running out of food and water

• If population estimates are correct then we
  should be able to feed everyone a healthy
  vegetarian diet. However we can increase
  production (we have already done so and
  technology keeps improving) and as we do so
  prices fall. We can deal with droughts by better
  irrigation and use better seeds, fertilizers, and
  do aquaculture and tree farming etc.

7
Some Considerations

• There are questions here he doesnt talk about
  like environmental effects of these pesticides
  and GMOs as well as sustainability issues.
• However he does discuss some important issues.
  He notes that the problem of poverty is a problem
  of equity. Trade barriers, poverty, corruption,
  poor management, war and oppression of people are
  all problems.

8

• He also mentions that changes in agricultural
  techniques and impacts on the environment and
  species will change the world and something
  valuable may be lost (e.g. a sense of place).
  But he notes some of these techniques of farming
  may preserve land and thus nature.

9

• In large part our economy depends on technology
  rather than exploiting nature. But, the incentive
  to use new practices and develop technology
  requires incentives provided by protecting
  natural resources.

10
We arent running out of energy

• Again new technologies can help us find new and
  better use old resources. The real problem is
  with controlling pollution. He talks about the
  Rio Agreement on climate (1992) and says that
  developed countries have the ability to reduce
  emissions of greenhouse gasses.

11

• There are also many sustainable energy resources
  available. Bio-energy, wind, water, solar,
  hydrogen and geothermal energy are available.
• Furthermore, we can increase energy use
  efficiency. The reason for this is lack of
  incentive for change because of poor laws,
  regulations, public attitudes and low costs of
  fossil fuels.

12
The north doesnt exploit the south

• Sagoff says that people complain that the problem
  is consumption not population (the north consumes
  too much) and this amounts to exploiting the
  south
• But he says what people should really claim (and
  what should really happen) is that the north
  ought to buy more of what the south produces.

13
They Have a Point

• For example, the U.S. protects its sugar industry
  rather than import and have prohibitory tariffs
  against competition. IN the case of the Fanjuls
  who benefit from the tariffs the environment (the
  everglades) suffer, and exemptions from labor
  laws allow importing foreign labor. This also
  caused the collapse of several foreign economies.
  Similar subsidies exist for soybeans, vanilla
  and coffee.

14
Other Problems

• Furthermore, technological innovations such as
  the ability to make pyrethrum insecticides, and
  genetic engineering are causing further turmoil
  as farmers in developing countries are forced out
  of business.

15

• Another problem is that we get rid of our extra
  supplies in the third world driving down prices
  and thus the livelihoods farmers can get from
  crops. This also creates food dependence once
  the farmers are out of business. A better
  alternative would have been more trade for crops
  best suited to respective ecosystems.

16
Exploitation?

• All of this might amount to exploitation under
  some definitions. But, he has a particular
  definition of exploitation in mind.

17
We Need Solutions

•  If poor nations cannot export anything else,
  they will export their misery in the form of
  drugs, diseases, terrorism, migration, and
  environmental degradation. Allen Hammond

18

• The poor have little resources in food,
  education, employment, the strict land-tenure
  systems thus leave them with little option but to
  exploit the land that they can in order to
  survive (e.g. slash and burn farming a huge
  contributor to deforestation , desertification
  and climate change).

19
Whats wrong with consumption?

• We value family and friends, beauty and
  spontenaity and these are traditional values and
  we realize we have tons when others have little.
  Discrepancy of wealth between rich and poor is
  getting worse though the poor are getting richer.
  In addition, we worry about losing cultural
  traditions.

20

• We realize that the insistence on consumption
  patterns contributes to this. We work too much
  and money doesnt make us happier once our needs
  are met. It seems that desires are insatiable
  and if desires increase as fast as incomes grow
  what point is there to accumulating wealth?

21
Summary

• Sagoff thinks that our best arguments for
  preserving the environment may be moral and
  aesthetic. We have to be careful in using
  economic arguments because of the considerations
  he has raised, if we get the details wrong then
  the argument may fail. For example its hard to
  show that a species is necessary for an
  ecosystem.

22

• We should recognize the intrinsic value of nature
  and see it as sacred, and wonderful. Economics
  may not be the appropriate context for thinking
  about environmental policy. We consume too much
  when consumption replaces bonds of community and
  place, and reverence for the natural world.

23
Questions for Reflection

• Do you think that the north exploits the south?
  Why/not? Be sure to define your terms and
  consider objections.
• Do you think the best arguments for protecting
  nature are aesthetic/moral or economic? Is there
  a role for economic considerations?
  Aesthetic/moral ones? (further research
  consider Schmidtz CBA paper).
• Compare and contrast Sagoff and Mathews where and
  how do they dis/agree?