We have an increasing threat to life on earth: climate change, perpetuated by capitalism. The inherent nature of capitalism means that production, consumption, and waste are incredibly high. Businesses sell consumption; they have techniques to make people believe that they need something they really don’t. In recent years, people have been able to see the effects of climate change (through the increasing number of ‘natural disasters’ across the globe). However, it has only pushed capitalist habits further, making people feel the need to buy products they feel are less harmful to the planet.
Greenwashing Campaigns
This change in consumer habits has resulted in ‘greenwashing’ campaigns, where capital is gained from cashing on on an individual’s concerns around the purchases they make. Examples of related products include metal straws, reusable cutlery, Tupperware, and plastic-free and/or reusable sanitary products. The amount of eco-friendly products is increasing at an exponential rate, however, these are often expensive, exclusive, and inaccessible to most individuals. And, all the while, the businesses producing these products are still having a negative impact: through their production methods; on the planet; the environment; and even other people. This can manifest as poor treatment of employees, huge waste disposal and plastic usage, and high carbon output.
It is simply not enough to sell a product on the basis of it being ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’: a business must also have good ethical practices.
Eco-anxiety
The use of the phrase ‘eco-anxiety’ (as coined by philosopher Glenn Albrecht in 2005) has become more widely used during recent years. Research has found that more than half of the UK’s population has some form of anxiety or depression relating to climate change. However, those in the Global South (referring broadly to the regions of Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania) disproportionately suffer the effects of eco-anxiety. People in these areas also suffer worse due to low-quality mental health services and other infrastructures, while simultaneously dealing with the increasing occurrence of natural disasters.
The worst sufferers of climate change are people within marginalised communities: women, people living in the Global South and those who are non-white. Conversely, I believe those that benefit from climate change within the system are mainly white cis-gendered men, often those born into the ‘right’ kind of wealthy families. The redistribution of wealth and power that big capitalists have is crucial to restore communities that have been disproportionately affected by colonialism, racism, and now climate change.
“Big businesses have been quick to place the onus on the individual…”
Eco-anxiety means that the demand for products and services that are ‘sustainable’ and ‘green’ is rising rapidly. Big businesses have been quick to place the onus on the individual: we are told we need to solve climate change ourselves. We are instructed to switch off lights when not in a room or during the day, flush the toilet less, and take less frequent and shorter showers, yet big businesses don’t seem to be making many sacrifices themselves. The continued expansion of consumption to increase capital gain is the biggest barrier to sustainability or any type of ‘green’ economic system.
“It is laughable when Big Oil uses ‘green’ or ‘sustainability’ within adverts – this is sadistically laughable”
The Rejection Of Science
Capitalism appears to reject science: where science produces and uses factual data and evidence, capitalism produces and uses ‘ideas’, subjective information, and may even fall back onto lies and bribery. The two don’t seem to co-exist peacefully in many spaces, and when they do, it appears that these scientists are being employed by the big oil companies, alongside media. What does this say for bias? Individuals have been researching the effects of the propaganda machine used by ‘Big Oil’ and we are only now seeing how deeply entrenched and corrupt their methods of persuasion are. It is laughable when Big Oil uses ‘green’ or ‘sustainability’ within advert – this is sadistically laughable. Big oil companies claim to be essential to the economy, yet this is simply not true. I believe that our economy and, more frighteningly, our society, will collapse with big oil companies as they continue to destroy both our climate, and subsequently our people.
“An interesting story is that of Fred Singer…”
Big Oil
The power of Big Oil’s propaganda machine is incredible. An interesting story is that of Fred Singer, a renowned climate denier, who worked closely with big oil companies. Singer was paid by Exxon mobil (plus many other oil companies) to perpetuate the spread of misinformation and lies surrounding climate change for decades. His credibility wasn’t questioned as he was a scientist, albeit the wrong type of scientist: Singer was a physicist. Big oil companies used Singer to create doubt and distrust for the real climate scientists by the public, and it was definitely a smart move. The alternative, allowing public knowledge of the true extent to which oil and gas products are damaging the climate, would put them straight out of business.
Scientists continue to warn the global population of the dangers fast approaching us and yet, unbelievably, big oil companies like BP and Exxon mobil continue to produce fossil fuels, even calling some of them ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’. For example, their presentation of natural gas: at first glance, it appears like it could be sustainable. But, if you think about it, all fossil fuels are natural. Research shows natural gas affects air quality when it is vented or burned (Shale), and affects local residents’ water quality as chemicals are likely to leak into groundwater.
“Politicians with vested interests will be more inclined to vote against measures that would benefit the climate.”
Who Do We Hold To Account Then?
We need to hold those individuals, media outlets, and corporations that create ‘greenwashing’ content and related misinformation campaigns to account. We need to hold to account governments that allow companies (e.g. BP, Exxon mobil, BHP, and Shell) to give others shares in their stock. Both MPs and members of the House of Lords have been shown to be recipients of shares in multiple oil and gas companies and this is extremely relevant to note: politicians with vested interests in oil, gas, and fossil fuels will be more inclined to vote against measures that would benefit the climate.
The crude reality (pun intended) is that capitalism is inherently destructive. Those that possess capital are single-handedly destroying our planet. And, for the most part, this is without the global population’s consent or knowledge. We need to collectively acknowledge the harms of capitalism and come together in solidarity through mutual aid. We have a human duty to help communities at the hands of ‘green’ capitalism disproportionately affected by climate change.
Carys Hopkins
Featured image via Markus Spiske on Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.
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