Ecological economics recognizes that humans are a part of this larger ecological system and not apart from it.

I found the solution must be quality over quantity, which creates a sustainable future for many generations to come.

Ecological economics starts with the observation that the human economy is a subsystem of the larger ecological life support system. It recognizes that humans are a part of this larger ecological system and not apart from it. Our current state of the economic system allows for growth at the expense of the environment. The environment is at risk in simple terms of overuse. To quote our current administration, “Drill baby Drill”, attitude only serves the industrial corporations, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions. We keep growing our economy, and that growth implies an increase in quantity or size. Can our environment, our Mother Earth, sustain that growth? Should it be quality over quantity? In my research for this article, I found the solution must be quality, not quantity. A sustainable future involves all inhabitants moving away from the consumer being the main driver to an ecological sustainability main driver.

First off, let me admit I’m not an economist. However, I am a consumer. I buy products, and that fuels the economy. The United States produces a total market value of all final goods and services produced is estimated at 27.721 trillion in GDP, the largest in the world. Being the largest Gross Domestic Product leader in the world but at what expence.

Biodiversity is the extraordinary variety of life on Earth — from genes and species to ecosystems and the valuable functions they perform. E.O. Wilson, the noted biologist and author who coined the term “biodiversity,” explains it as “the very stuff of life.”

Extinction of Fauna and Flora

How many animals are extinct? The baseline extinction rate is about one species per every one million species per year. It’s hard to quantify, but the numbers are estimated to be in the billions. Scientists agree that today’s extinction rate is hundreds, or even thousands, of times higher than the natural baseline rate. Take the case of the Passenger pigeon. Their numbers were wiped out after Europeans arrived and hunted them for cheap meat. In 1914, the last known surviving member of the species, Martha, died at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Their numbers were wiped out after Europeans arrived and hunted them for cheap meat. In 1914, the last known surviving member of the species, Martha, died at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Our current economic system

An economic system is a means by which societies or governments organize and distribute available resources, services, and goods across a geographic region or country. Economic systems regulate the factors of production, including land, capital, labor, and physical resources. An economic system encompasses many institutions, agencies, entities, decision-making processes, and patterns of consumption that comprise the economic structure of a given community.

The United States operates a mixed economy, which combines elements of both capitalism and socialism. While it largely functions as a market economy driven by private ownership and competition, the government also plays a significant role in regulation and providing essential services. But is it environmentally sustainable for future generations? Or just a slash-and-burn approach. In other words, get what you can now.

It’s no secret that the current administartions seeks to back-tract on promoting green energy and promote oil and gas exploration which will lead to more green house gasses, thus contribute to global warming.

The solution could be to place the environment first.

Ecological economics starts with the observation that the human economy is a subsystem of the larger ecological life support system. This approach recognizes that humans are a part of this larger ecological system and not apart from it.

We, as human beings, are not here to protect what does not truly belong to us, now or ever, but we must develop greater devotion and respect for the Earth, which is our mother, which is our home. Brunella Pernigotti, from Wolf Festival Manifesto.

Earth’s finite resources need solutions that allow growth in quality not quantity. Earth is heating up!

According to NASA, Global climate change is not a future problem. Changes to Earth’s climate driven by increased human emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases are already having widespread effects on the environment: glaciers and ice sheets are shrinking, river and lake ice is breaking up earlier, plant and animal geographic ranges are shifting, and plants and trees are blooming sooner.

How Long Before Earth Becomes Uninhabitable? Scientists predict that we will lose our freshwater in two decades.

Solutions. Take Action. Help ensure the health of the planet for generations to come!

Begin the conversation with your local leaders, state and federal leaders. That is how to work towards a sustainable future.

Ecological economics starts with the observation that the human economy is a subsystem of the larger ecological life support system. It recognizes that humans are a part of this larger ecological system and not apart from it. A sustainable future involves all inhabitants moving away from the consumer being the main driver to an ecological sustainability main driver.

Educate, educate, and educate our youth! National Geographic has resources for educators at the following website: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/resource-library-human-impacts-environment/

To learn more about Ecological Economics:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/ecological-economics

To learn more about biodiversity:

https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/teaching-resources/life-science/what-biodiversity