Both direct and indirect pressures result in environmental impacts, in particular, global warming, biodiversity degradation, soil sealing and air and water pollution. Of greater magnitude, however, are the indirect pressures that are created along the production chains of the goods and services consumed, including, for example, food, clothing, furniture or electricity.
CONSUMPTION DRIVERS
However, it is private and public consumption that are the fundamental causal factors and drivers of change in production activities.Ĭonsumption leads to the direct creation of environmental pressures from the use of products and services, for example, through driving a car or heating a house with fossil fuels. Production activities across economic sectors, including extractive industries, agriculture, energy, transport and manufacturing, are directly responsible for the majority of the environmental impacts caused by the economy.
CONSUMPTION SERIES
Sociologists also study the relationship between consumption and social categorization, group membership, identity, stratification, and social status. Due to its centrality to social life, sociologists recognize fundamental and consequential relationships between consumption and economic and political systems. It includes the range of emotions, values, thoughts, identities, and behaviors that circulate the purchase of goods and services, and how we use them by ourselves and with others. The sociology of consumption is about far more than a simple act of purchase. The sociology of consumption is an active area of research studied by sociologists around the world.