To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”
Save to my list
Remove from my list
The government’s capitalistic and money-hungry system of prioritizing the free trade market over preserving the planet has left many Americans wondering why we have yet to make any progress in reversing climate change, which is what author Naomi Klein deeply analyzes in her well-known book This Changes Everything. What is beneficial for the people and for the environment altogether meets great confusion with the government’s definition of success, as we are living through a rapid decline of the environment.
The concept of capitalism has been acting as a major roadblock, jeopardizing the future of our planet as it has more of a detrimental impact on warming the earth than any other human activity does.
Moreover, there is a great lack of accountability being held by governments on a global scale, as nations continuously place fault on other countries for the same harmful activities of releasing an abundance of emissions into the air. There is a constant battle between governments looking to expand the free trade market and working towards reversing climate change, as both are attempting to meet a certain level of success, but are continuing to overshadow one another, halting any type of progression.
Throughout the text, Klein exposes the government's actions of prioritizing business and global commerce over implementing safe, cost-effective alternatives to maintaining a habitable planet.
Verified writer
Proficient in: Climate Crisis
4.9 (984)
“ Ok, let me say I’m extremely satisfy with the result while it was a last minute thing. I really enjoy the effort put in. ”
Capitalism has driven our economic sectors to the point of no return in terms of reversing climate change as “we have an economic system that fetishizes GDP growth above all else, regardless of the human or ecological consequences.
This directly supports the idea that national governments as well as global economic systems have completely different views of success compared to those who have a strong willingness to put effort into actually saving the earth. The chaotic growth of the free trade business is driving these large corporations to enforce regulations which drastically harm our surrounding environment all because of the capitalistic system we have been trapped in for so long for.
Any country’s definition of success will almost certainly include elements of unemployment rates decreasing, which was seen in Canada in 2014, with “more than 31,000 jobs created” following a mass solar energy production by their government. Here, the concept of success is illustrated by the creation of thousands of job opportunities, minimizing the use of non-renewable resources, and reducing the overall amount of emissions released into the environment. This type of positive progression can also be seen in Denmark, “with 40 percent of its electricity coming from renewables, mostly wind”. With their citizens being compliant with new environmental systems, Denmark was able to make major changes in the way their society functions in relation with the climate and surrounding environment.
For too long, the destruction of our planet has been completely overshadowed by the free trade market, and the world is struggling to find an effective solution. Calls for a “green transition” have been proposed in hopes of making people consume less and incorporate more environment-friendly options in their daily lives. However, in order for green energy to run effectively, “governments need to take a range of aggressive steps-from price guarantees to straight subsidies”. Before we see any type of progress in making the planet more “green,” national governments alongside with mega corporations must claim responsibility for what destruction has already occurred.
Not wanting to appear as “anti-trade,” governments start to enforce regulations and point fingers at other manufacturers for the wreckage that they had previously created, “blaming their own failures on the other’s lack of commitment”. If no one is being held accountable for the damage, we should only expect to see more of the same activity. Hopeful environmentalists and willful citizens cannot keep watching these national governments go back and forth in a never-ending game of who’s to blame, but must adopt new habits of living as a start to bettering the planet because by now, “the chances of staying within anything like safe temperature levels are diminishing fast”. What is truly frightening, however, is how long we have been aware of this climate crisis, and how little we have done to combat it.
In order to deter from this decline which we are already too far into, countries must take drastic steps to limit their emissions and greenhouse gases being released into the air. What is now feeling like the home stretch of humanity as we know it may soon turn into a reality. An answer we have yet to uncover is whether or not this system of free trade can continue to exist while making extreme cuts and changes to the market as well as the way we live in our surrounding environment on a daily basis. Although the seas have only warmed about a degree, it is believed by scientific experts that a 2-degree decrease is essential for any difference to be seen. However, as emissions have risen through the roof, “the only way negotiators can achieve a 2-degree goal is to shut down the whole global economy”.
Without extremely drastic measures being taken to aid the planet, there is virtually no way for the free trade market to continue booming the way it currently is. This type of outcome should have been seen from decades ago, as our now-weak environment can no longer withstand the nonstop destruction and poor treatment the world has been giving it. As a matter of fact, “cuts above 1 percent per year have historically been associated only with economic recession or upheaval”, demonstrating that any type of cut or withdraw will be met with serious economic downfalls. For the sake of growing wealth, large corporations continue to threaten any solution to reversing climate change, further supporting the notion that it is unlikely for both sectors, the economy and the environment, to coexist successfully.
For individuals, however, the issue is that “Policies based on encouraging people to consume less are far more difficult for our current political class to embrace than policies that are about encouraging people to consume green”(225). Although Klein suggests reducing non-renewable resources on a national level, this loophole is seemingly challenging as consumers have already become so accustomed to their high-consumption daily lifestyles, and incorporating new alternatives unfortunately is not a priority for many. Being this far into the climate crisis, any type of systemic environmental changes will be greeted with challenges by the free trade market.
There is a steady fight between governments hoping to grow the free trade business and moving in the direction of turning around environmental change, as both are hoping to meet a certain degree of accomplishment, yet are continuing to obscure one another, ending any sort of movement. The idea of private enterprise has continuously been acting as a barrier, negatively impacting the eventual fate of our planet. The administration's industrialist and greedy arrangement of organizing free trade commerce over saving the planet has left little to no chance in turning around environmental change. The steps we need to take to ensure a successful transition away from fossil fuels directly conflict with our present economic situation
The Role of Capitalism in the Climate Crisis. (2024, Jan 25). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/the-role-of-capitalism-in-the-climate-crisis-essay
👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!
Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.
get help with your assignment
