Kelsey McGovern, Staff Writer

Today trends are so popular that they often coerce people into buying yet another piece of clothing or an additional accessory. It brings to mind the question: have people forgotten about the impacts their spending has on our environment? We are currently way too caught up with our own self-perceptions rather than paying attention to how our Earth will respond to our consumption.

The United Nations published sustainable development goals, which include  responsible consumption and production, stating, “If the global population reaches 9.8 billion by 2050, we would need the equivalent of almost three planets to sustain our current lifestyles.”

Pretty terrifying, right?

In order to prevent our world from crashing down, maybe we should avoid buying those new pairs of shoes. I know it sounds devastating…but what sounds even worse is our future generations being unable to sustain life in our current homes.

We have time to change this. The next time you buy a physical item that you may already have (maybe you have 10 of them), be intentional about that purchase. When consumers buy products,  manufacturing operations cause climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions to be released, contributing to climate change.

People are so concerned with themselves that they often fail to consider that their actions could negatively impact those around them.

This does not mean that you cannot buy anything; it just puts an emphasis on the thoughtfulness of your purchases. It is essential for each of us to become more conscientious about our spending habits. Ask yourself if you really need something or if the internet is just telling you that you do.

Instead of always replacing an item, attempt to repair it. Instead of buying new items, buy used items. Instead of throwing items away only for them to end up in a landfill, donate them to the less fortunate. By giving your bank a break, you are also giving our wonderful Earth a break.