HANDBOOK 101: A Guide to Sustainability for the Individual Consumer

By Elisaveta Shilov

Handbook 101 - A Guide to Sustainability for the Individual Consumer
It is easy to get lost in all the information regarding our planet and its current situation. This book was designed to make complex relations simple and to help us understand what happened, why it happened, and what we can do to help create a safe future for humanity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tablo Publishing
• Release date: Oct 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685835262

Book preview

HANDBOOK 101

Prologue

Understanding and feeling great about social and/or political issues such as poverty, hunger, injustice and inequality, as well as the necessity to address them, is not in the slightest less important than climate change. I will focus solely on the approach of sustainability for the planet. I have decided to limit the focus to ecological planetary circumstances that are influenced by human activity and can be changed through personal decisions in purchase, lifestyle and habit, as human survival depends on a balanced natural environment. ​

Many of the issues mentioned in Handbook 101 are solely issues of the (so-called) Western world and more developed states.​

As developing countries are increasing their impact on climate, adjustments are also necessary in countries such as Brazil, Russia and India. Yet, in the distribution of harmful impact, developed countries are still leading (with China being an exception) and, in this sense, hold greater responsibility for the mitigation of and adaptation to a changing climate. ​

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No easy solutions can be provided regarding how to eliminate the existing difficulties of developing countries. Ideas and solutions to mitigate and eliminate issues of Western society are suggested in hopes of creating sustainable systems in the West. Such systems can then be adapted by developing countries, providing the chance to develop in a sustainable way from the ground up.

HANDBOOK 101

A Simple Poem

To provide my needs I rely on nature​

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I eat my fruits and vegetables as well​

On occasion products of animals treated well​

I live under wood and stone​

Which comes from nature alone​

I live because I breathe​

Clean air because of leafs​

I drink fresh water​

My body is made of that, my brother​

From rivers, lakes, mountains and the ground ​

From waterfalls growling so loud​

I wear my clothes​

Cotton, wool and silk​

All from nature like mother’s milk​

I move fast today​

Through metals on the railway​

The fuel and gas for the engine my dear​

It all comes from nature​

I hope I made that clear​

Even in bad health​

I turn to nature for medicinal wealth​

All I do and all I live​

All I use and even give​

Taken from nature from nature alone​

The mother of all and the place we call home ​

For future life available​

We ought to live sustainable​

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HANDBOOK 101 - Chapter 2

Basic Terms

what are we talking about here

Sustainability ​

A way of life that ensures the same level and quality of life for future generations. From a more holistic approach, it refers to life following the harmony of nature and prospering in balance with it rather than exploiting it ​

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Sustainable Development ​

Different measures, policies and actions taken regarding the general development (economic, infrastructural, technological, social) of countries in a sustainable manner, including social, economic, environmental and cultural values to achieve sustainability​

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Greenhouse Gases​

Emitted gases, natural and manmade, warming the planet. A large amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs), caused by human extensive fossil fuel burning, are now trapped in the earth’s atmosphere and cause an unnatural rate of the planet’s warming​

Biodiversity ​

All species of plants, animals, insects and (micro)organisms. As the name implies, it is the diversity of biology on this planet​

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Eco-systems ​

Biological and physical structures and processes of plants, animals and microorganism that interact with, and depend on, each other. Everything found in nature belongs to an ecosystem, including humans​

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Eco-services ​

Eco-systems provide eco-services (for humans)​

- provisioning (food, water, air, resources)​

- regulating ​

  (climate regulation by trees and oceans - for example, CO2 absorption)​

- recreational (natural sights, health benefits of time spent in nature)​

- medicinal (half of all medical components are taken from nature)​

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Carbon Sink​

Natural eco-systems absorbing carbon dioxide, reducing amounts in the air ​

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Biocapacity ​

The finite amount of natural resources that earth has available in each country, city and continent​

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Planetary Boundaries​

An overview of the 10 boundaries of the planet’s capacity and, if reached, (can) generate irreversible environmental changes ​

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Ecology ​

The biological science to define natural differences: how different organisms interact with each other and their environment ​

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Ecological footprint ​

The measure of the limited natural resources that a given population requires ​

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Ecological Overshoot ​

When the needs and extraction of natural resources exceed earth’s capacity ​

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Climate ​

Average statistics of weather observation from a long-term perspective ​

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Weather ​

Current and short-term weatherly occurrences, such as rain, wind, temperature, snow and storms​

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Climate Change ​

A general change in long-term climate ​

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Biosphere​

The area in which life is possible and existent; it is the sum of all ecosystems ​

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Degradable​

A substance breaking down into smaller particles ​

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Biodegradable​

The state of a substance breaking down into smaller particles or compounds due to a naturally occurring microorganism. The particles or compounds can be reabsorbed into the nature’s cycle and ecosystems​

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Compostable​

Biodegradable but within less time ​

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Atmosphere ​

The layers of gases (mostly nitrogen and oxygen) surrounding earth and protecting earth’s living ecosystems from damaging sunlight and ultraviolet radiation. Ninety-nine percent of the atmosphere is found 50 km from earth​

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Troposphere​

The closest layer in the earth’s atmosphere. The troposphere is where most weather happens, and it contains 80% of the air​

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Stratosphere​

The next layer after Troposphere and the main flight area of airplanes​

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Ozone layer​

A thin gas layer of oxygen where solar radiation is trapped - a protective film ​

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Deforestation​

Logging (cutting trees) for the main purposes of opening landscape for agricultural land and extracting coal​

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Industrialization ​

Through the rise of industrial mechanisms (machines, trains, cars, airplanes, internet, phone devices) – that is, technology – our world has prospered, enabling a convenient life, travel possibilities, communications and a digital economy and thereby producing an unprecedented lifestyle​

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Economic Growth ​

Through the industrialization came economic growth. Through economic growth, people are now able to live longer; therefore, significant population growth is expected​

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Overpopulation ​

With the population growing, the need for more food, water, energy, housing and transportation is amplifying, including the scenario of too little resources for too many people​

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Linear economy​

Our current way of life has a linear approach: extracting, producing, distributing, using and disposing into landfill or oceans

HANDBOOK 101 - Chapter 3

Solution Overview

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Circular Economy​

Transitioning from the current state of a linear economy (produced, used, wasted) to an economic system where products are made for long-term use - to be reused and recycled; creating a cycle of consumption where waste is either biodegradable or reusable. More information at: ​

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foundation www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/​

cradle-to-cradle https://www.c2ccertified.org/​

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Off-grid Living​

Creating one’s private space in a circular pattern - collecting rainwater, using a renewable energy source and having a private land for the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and herbs, as well as having personal small livestock and compost. This also includes a private space independent from general electricity, water or food supply​

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Urban Farming​

Incorporation of farming or/and gardening into buildings of cities, thereby reducing the needed space of land for human food production in nature ​

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Reducetarian​

An individual who has reduced or is attempting to reduce all consumption in daily life - food, clothes, energy, water​

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Conscious Consumer​

Breaking the habit as a consumer of random, careless and impulsive consumption ​

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Zero-Waste Movement​

Solutions for daily life with a zero-waste methodology ​

http://www.zerowastesystems.com.au/​

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Chapter 4

History​

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In order to ​

understand ​

what is now

one needs to ​

understand ​

how now happened

HANDBOOK 101 - Section 1

The History of Cause -