With the new year comes an exciting opportunity to re-commit to green habits, as well as strive to make a positive difference. One topic that schools can focus on is consumerism in the classroom and school-wide.
Why explore consumerism? It is a far-reaching topic that covers many aspects – from being more thoughtful about purchases, to getting creative with sharing, to learning about the energy costs of producing consumer goods. By changing our consumption habits, we can dramatically reduce our environmental footprints.
Here are a few facts to get you started:
- According to this Grist news article, household consumerism accounts for about 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Did you know that we would need 3-4 planets to sustain our current level of consumption? Canadians buy a lot, which contribute to our country having an ecological footprint that outsizes what the Earth can support.
- Canada is one the largest consumers of energy on a per capita basis. Read this BBC How many Earths do we need? article to see the top consuming countries in the world.
Certification tip: Reducing consumerism and connecting it to climate change action also has clear links to the Ontario EcoSchools program, particularly in the sections of Curriculum and Environmental Stewardship.
Are you ready to learn more? Integrate these lesson plans into the classroom.
- The Climate Change Kit includes a section on Climate Change and Consumerism, which provides basic facts to stimulate your thinking as well as a wealth of ideas to reduce your consumer footprint.
- Our recent Climate change in the classroom story includes three lessons which are easily adaptable to different grade levels.
- Life cycle analysis: Get to know the products you buy and use by finding out the environmental impact through each stage of its life, all the way from production to disposal.
- Media literacy: Integrating media literacy into classes such as art and creative writing is also a good way to raise awareness of the negative impacts of a consumerism-oriented way of life. Organizations like Adbusters have been working for many years to promote media literacy through its magazine, spoof ads, and campaigns like Buy Nothing Day.
- Certification tip: claim this in Curriculum by including lesson details and student work. See the 2016-17 Certification Guide for full requirements.
Are you ready to take action? Popular school campaigns from past years include:
- Ban the Bottle/Turn on the Tap: We are lucky to have access to some of the cleanest water in the world. By using refillable water bottles and choosing tap water, we can cut back on plastics and pollution.
- Make Your Own: Get creative in promoting the four Rs, with an emphasis on re-thinking, reducing, and reusing. For example, choose a common beauty product, like shampoo, and research how to make your own version using common ingredients that students can find at home. Find basic ingredients and simple recipes at Wellness Mama.
- Buy Nothing (Day): Revisit our Fall Campaigns story for more information on Buy Nothing Day, as well as an invitation to reflect on your consumption patterns and identify areas where you can reduce.
- Certification tip: Remember to claim whole-school campaigns in Environmental Stewardship.
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