Capitalist theory clearly breaks down when it comes to the climate crisis – or many other forms of pollution.

Climate change is a result of the greatest market failure the world has seen. The evidence on the seriousness of the risks from inaction or delayed action is now overwhelming. We risk damages on a scale larger than the two world wars of the last century.

Sir Nicholas Stern (now Lord Stern)
Head of the Government Economic Service and Adviser to the Government on the economics of climate change and development

That’s some pretty serious market failure we’re talking about. So why on Earth didn’t capitalism recognize the danger – and the opportunity – and go green? Why, in fact, is capitalism doing the opposite, and doing its best to obstruct self-preservation? Continue reading →

Copenhagen has failed to produce a realistic plan to combat the climate crisis. Two degrees is too much; the current heating of 0.8C is already cooking the world, melting practically every glacier on the planet, causing deserts to spread and wildfires to be much more damaging, and ocean acidification is destroying the entire marine food web. Tens of millions will be driven from their land, their homes, and their livelihoods to become displaced climate refugees within the next forty years.

This is unacceptable. It is greed hiding behind diplomacy. It is mass murder.

If what is considered “politically feasible” is inadequate to meet the threat, then politics and politicians must change or be changed. The crooked and foolish lobbyists who sabotaged a realistic agreement must be held accountable: They must be tried for crimes against humanity immediately.

We are the Climate Justice League, and we are climate realists. We accept that we face a climate emergency and must respond appropriately. The agreement at Copenhagen leads us to climate disaster; billions will ultimately die. No more talk. The time has come to do what must be done, no matter the vested interests who will make a few millions less. We must go green or die. Continue reading →

Bill McKibben, famed environmentalist and founder of 350.org, is shocked that Copenhagen was a sham in which the developed countries never intended to even attempt the carbon cuts we realistically need. The leaders of these countries are willing to commit us to 3C+, which means the end of us; once 2C is exceeded, irreversible and uncontrollable feedbacks will kick in and global temperatures will shoot up by 6C or more. Agriculture is impossible at those temperatures, meaning civilisation and most of humanity are finished.

Bill McKibben is a dedicated soul, and has done more about the climate crisis than most people – but did he really think candlelight vigils were going to persuade people who have been disseminating lies about global warming for years? These people are neither wise nor good. They care only about themselves and their cronies, and seem wilfully blind to anything that impedes the flow of lucre. Continue reading →

I hyperbolate only slightly. If climate change will devastate these countries – if some of them will be completely obliterated by the results of our actions – is this not equal to war? Who can blame them for walking out of the Copenhagen talks?

If this seems extreme, consider this example: If a river flows through two countries and the upstream country decides to take all the water, there will certainly be war. The downstream country will have no choice. The same parallel applies with climate change: the developed nations have caused most of the global warming thus far, and, much worse, have denied and obstructed action to reduce the impacts. Continue reading →