The video discusses the environmental impact of human activities, specifically the linear economy, which is a system of extracting, producing, and disposing of products. The narrator explains that this system is unsustainable and contributes to climate change, pollution, and waste. They propose an alternative: the circular economy, where products are designed to be recycled, reused, and biodegradable.
The narrator uses the example of mobile phones to illustrate the potential benefits of a circular economy. By designing phones that are easy to repair, upgrade, and recycle, companies can reduce waste and save resources. This approach can be applied to other products as well.
However, the narrator acknowledges that implementing a circular economy will require significant changes in consumer behavior, business models, and government policies. They suggest that one possible solution is to adopt a model of product-as-a-service, where companies lease products to consumers and take back the products at the end of their life cycle to recycle or reuse them.
The video concludes by emphasizing the importance of adopting a circular economy to mitigate the environmental impact of human activities and to ensure a sustainable future.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. Carbon dioxide has increased by 30% since the industrial revolution.
2. The global temperature has risen by more than one degree as a result of increased carbon dioxide.
3. The poles are melting due to rising temperatures.
4. Within the next half century, there will be no ice in the Arctic during summer.
5. The sea level rises by 1 mm each year due to melting ice.
6. The sea level has risen by 17 cm in the past 100 years.
7. If the temperature rises by one degree more, a large part of New York would be underwater within the next 25 years.
8. The United Nations predicts that between 50 and 200 million people will be displaced due to climate change by 2050.
9. 7 million deaths a year are the result of atmospheric pollution, accounting for 12% of all deaths.
10. Even if climate change objectives are met, 5% of animal species will become extinct due to climate change within 25 years.
11. The most pessimistic scenarios predict that one species in three will become extinct due to climate change.
12. The linear economy is a system where resources are extracted, refined, manufactured, and consumed, resulting in waste and pollution.
13. The linear economy is responsible for 70% of CO2 emissions and the consumption of 60 billion tonnes of raw materials per year.
14. Only half of the extracted raw materials are regenerated, with the rest being lost forever.
15. The European Union is investing in initiatives related to the circular economy, aiming to reduce urban waste by 65% by 2030.
16. The circular economy seeks to eliminate waste by designing products to be repairable, upgradable, and recyclable.
17. The circular economy can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70% and energy consumption.
18. The circular economy can also reduce waste by 65% and promote the reuse of materials.