Capitalism and the Environment

Capitalism is evil. This is an argument I have heard before in regards to the economy, the U.S. social structure and even the government; but never before have I heard of it actually destroying the world. Capitalism is destroying the environment. The affects of capitalism can be seen all over the world; human activity is quickly destroying the Earth. Capitalism treats the environment merely as an input; it sees it as a tool to produce goods. Part of the problem stems from the capitalist’s view of nature as part of the marketplace. Capitalism sees nature as another commodity that will replenish itself simply because they need it to. Capitalism’s destruction of the Earth is twofold; it leads to consumerism, which also works to harm the Earth. Consumerism is basically the economic demand created by consumers. Consumerism gives capitalists an excuse for their increased production. But consumerism also refers to the use of natural resources to make a product.

Capitalism has attempted to solve the ecological crisis through more capitalism; in other words capitalism believes it can solve the current environmental problem by going further into capitalism. I learned the definition of insanity as “attempting the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Capitalism’s solution to environmental degradation constitutes just that. Two of capitalism’s attempts at solving the ecological crisis are; 1) green technology and 2) cap-and-trade.

Frist let us discuss green technology. Green technology is more of a marketing strategy than an actual solution to the current environmental problem; its more of a cash grab. For example, Richard Branson – owner of Virgin – publicly stated he was going to fund projects for more green technology. He pledged that he was looking for a method through which his company could make money and not have to be ashamed of it. His promises turned out to be false; in reality he gave nothing to the environment all while Virgin saw an increase in profits (Klein). Because there is a consumer demand for green technology it is created; tying into the notion of consumerism. Green technology is something that only affluent persons can enjoy. It is also developed by consumer demands, which plays into consumerism. Green technology also has the problem of not being a viable option, it works to improve the environment but actually doesn’t as seen in the Jevon’s and Paperless Office Paradox.

Cap-and-trade marks capitalism’s other attempt to solve the environmental crisis. Cap-and-trade created an economic market for carbon trading; in simpler terms it means that for every carbon emission a company makes it needs to offset it with a carbon decrease. This method has led to many human rights violations; these violations are documented in the film The Carbon Rush. The Carbon Rush details the exploitation by the affluent North of the impoverished South. The North uses the South as a means to solve the environmental problems it creates. It takes the least responsible countries and makes them the ones who must suffer the most.

As mentioned above capitalism has led to human rights violations. Its main human rights violation comes in the exploitation of the poor. Aside from the above listed human rights violations capitalism violates intra-generational rights. Writer Naomi Klein sums up the argument for intra-generational human, environmental rights with the argument “will my son ever see a moose?” For me this really shows the argument for intra-generational rights; future generations should be able to enjoy the same Earth current generations do. Granted capitalism has created a method for solving the ecological crisis for future generations through discounting, which follows the lines of solving capitalism through capitalism.

In order to save the environment the current social structure needs to change. Bellamy Foster et al. argue that capitalism has completely failed, it focuses too much on growth to allow it to be a social structure that could protect the environment and a new moral based structure is needed. A system needs to be created in which we have social control. A system of socialism is needed to stop and resolve the harmful affects of capitalism. Socialism would be a viable choice due to the elementary triangle of socialism relating so closely to the elementary triangle of ecology. In socialism the environment is closely tied to the social order.

My main question after learning all this is; would a world that has based itself in the destruction of itself really allow change, even if it is for the best? And furthermore, how can human rights be protected in a social system based on exploitation?

 

Bellamy Foster, J., Clark, B., York, R. (2010). “The Ecological Rift: Capitalism’s War on the Earth”. Monthly Review Press: New York.

Klein, N. (2014). “Naomi Klein: the hypocrisy behind the big business climate change battle”. Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/13/greenwashing-sticky-business-naomi-klein