E1 Popularised article, newspaper article
Climate Change and Capitalist Development (2021)


Eskelinen, T. Climate Change and Capitalist Development. In W. Baier, E. Canepa, & H. Golemis (Eds.), Capitalism's Deadly Threat : transform! Yearbook 2021 (pp. 96-105). The Merlin Press Ltd.


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Eskelinen, Teppo

Parent publication: Capitalism's Deadly Threat : transform! Yearbook 2021

Parent publication editors: Baier, Walter; Canepa, Eric; Golemis, Haris

ISBN: 978-0-85036-770-6

Publication year: 2021

Pages range: 96-105

Number of pages in the book: 438

Publisher: The Merlin Press Ltd

Place of Publication: London

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 


Abstract

In contemporary politics, climate-change mitigation might appear to be everywhere. Almost every government reports on its advances in sustainable development, and even global firms have ever more environmental responsibility programmes and sustainability initiatives. Given these developments, and with a large number of responsible and conscious consumers, the acutely deteriorating state of the climate is striking. The question to be asked is: Is there something inherent in the existing economic system that pushes it towards climate disaster, or can the crisis be governed away with more environmental policies, without addressing the underlying system?
In what follows, I will briefly review climate change in the context of and in relation to capitalism. This requires taking into account the key aspects of the economic system which press towards environmental destruction. A further question that needs to be asked is: Are capitalism and climate change inextricably interwoven, or could there be a capitalist system without such an environmental impact? I will begin by discussing the currently dominant narrative on climate change and then turn to the particularities of capitalism’s relation to nature. Finally, I will discuss the prospects of capitalism without climate change.


Keywords: environmental changes; climate changes; capitalism; economic systems; sustainable development; economic policy; international economics; climate protection; environmental effects; environmental protection; environmental policy; criticism


Contributing organizations


Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021


Last updated on 2024-03-04 at 19:46