Capitalism and Climate Change

Use a reading that describes the link between a capitalist/consumer economy and climate change.

  • Use the reading, 'Climate Change and Capitalism', by Jonathan T. Park, University of Utah, to discuss the link between capitalism and climate change.
  • Understand how the consumer ideology in a capitalist society results in the overproduction and overconsumption of goods.
  • Discuss the implications of this: exploitation of natural resources, high energy expenditure, excess waste production and extensive environmental degradation due to pollution.
  • Emphasize that capitalist modes of production require large scale burning of fossil fuels to meet energy requirements, and these in turn contribute towards global warming.
  • Thus, discuss how the capitalist model can be modified for a sustainable future: preservation of natural resources and mitigating climate change.
Authored by Jonathan T. Park, University of Utah. Provided by Columbia University Academic Commons

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