3 Radical Steps to Prevent Capitalism and Climate Change From Killing Us All

We’re on the brink of a man-made apocalypse; here’s what we can do about it.

We’re on the brink of a man-made apocalypse; 

here’s what we can do about it.

While the sky isn’t falling (per se), global temperatures are warming and sea levels are rising — mostly likely by a few degrees and feet, respectively, according to sensible projections. Doesn’t sound like much but the likely consequences are the hallmarks of a dystopian science fiction: food and water shortages, mass-exodus from coastal cities and other vulnerable areas, airborne pandemics, infrastructure stress, and violent storm surges cascading into an acutely challenged existence to say the very least. With about 11 years of runway to stave off climate change’s worst impacts, we’re truly marching toward an existential crisis, and with each passing day of shameful inaction, the outlook grows unspeakably macabre for future generations. So… what are we going to do about it?

Answering that question first requires us to acknowledge our role in this fuckery (myself included; I’m part of the problem). Frankly, it’s our unchecked consumerism and gratuitous wanting that’s landed us in this hot mess. Simply put, there’s a lot of people on this planet, all of whom want more things — things of increasing production complexity, resource requirements and carbon footprints. And so we burn fossil fuels, cut down rainforests, farm more land, and raise livestock — activities with enormous environmental impacts — to satiate consumer choice and meet the demand for bigger, badder, faster things. This is why many climate scientists agree that one of the biggest levers for fighting climate change is educating women; their inclusion in the workforce (other than inherently being the right thing to do) leads to fewer children, fewer people needing and wanting things.

Read the story from Medium by Swannie Morgan - “3 Radical Steps to Prevent Capitalism and Climate Change From Killing Us All.”