Article by Rahdia Ali

Graphic: Sébastien Thibault – Source: https://www.leftvoice.org/capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-lets-destroy-capitalism/ 

Capitalism is overtaking our lives in the worst way possible. The sea levels are rising, the global temperature is rising, pollution has replaced the air, and our entire planet is dying! But all the bourgeoisie can be concerned about is profit. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels have continuously emphasised the corruptness of the capitalists and how they benefit the disadvantaged in a myriad of ways. However, even now, when the destruction of the environment is imminent, with greenhouse gasses expected to triple by the end of the century, their focus is still solely based on greed to continue production. A fundamental change needs to be made otherwise it will lead to cataclysmic events that will endanger the lives of everyone.

Evidently, the Industrial Revolution completely transformed societal norms and values but at the cost of endless repercussions. Arguably, the Climate Catastrophe is one of the most detrimental as it has led to several issues, such as displacement due to flooding of homes or extreme wildfires, and more. The only reason why capitalists have not made it a priority is because; first, it is more likely to affect the poor, especially those in the Global South, and second, it would impact their income. Despite the numerous deaths and health problems caused by the dehumanising conditions, the proletariat is still forced to continue production as they have no power.

Therefore, more changes need to be made through environmental policies to ensure the protection of wildlife, greenery, and workers altogether. We have already acknowledged that we are living in the time of the Anthropocene and must alter our ways to give future generations a chance to live without chaos.

Eco-Marxists have paid particular attention to the transformations that can be made, arguing that despite the fact that capitalists have caused such destruction, they account for the 1% and the remaining 99% must do all that they can to defy the orders of the Elite and bring about change to the environment. They have gone as far as to rename it as the ‘Capitolcence’ as the rich have a carbon footprint that amasses a significant amount of damage to the environment in comparison to that amount by the poor. For this to happen the political system must operate in the way of its ‘purpose’ which is to look out for the best interests of the people instead of fixating on money.

So, going forward capitalists need to be given less social responsibility as their ways of operating are intrinsically and systematically unsustainable. There needs to be more focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 9 which focuses on industry, innovation and infrastructure. Essentially, this promotes more environmentally friendly infrastructures that will aid in protecting the environment and restrict companies from using more renewable sources. There is also an emphasis on the Global South and an aim to improve the conditions they must work in and around. This ties in with policy changes and enables workers to have more rights in order to be protected from harmful scenarios and reduce the effects of the climate catastrophe. As a result, the bourgeoisie would be required to continuously consider the triple bottom line which incorporates ties between profit, people and the planet. Moreover, the push to achieve the SDGs by 2030 will produce more initiatives in different work sectors all over the world, opening new job opportunities for a significant amount of people with their being estimated to employ twenty million more people by 2030.

Unfortunately, capitalism has become a staple part of society, with a substantial amount of the population being unaware of how the system is exploiting them. There may be ways in the future to overcome this but for now, it would be best to pay attention to environmental ways that can be incorporated into the system, enabling sustainable efficiency to become a new norm within the economic sector.

These next few years will be extremely fundamental in deciding the fate of our planet and the conditions future generations will have to live in. The implementation of the SDGs in the means of production will contest the gluttonous intentions of the capitalists and create an eco-friendlier society. Subsequently, agriculture across the world would be able to thrive and people would be able to live without the risk of certain hazards becoming disasters. More importantly, adherence to the triple bottom line will facilitate more renewable sources of conducting business and ensure the safety of the planet and people.

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