Capitalism, the cause global warming. Can we change?

Question

Capitalism has always been driven by profit. Profit is considered above all, even before repercussions. Capitalism creates consumerism, which contributes to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions and thus we get global warming. We may all be consumers of needs and wants, some more than others, but capitalism allows us to freely use, use, and use. Is it possible to keep our economic system, but make changes so that we do not kill our planet?

Answer 1

Capitalism is best at creating value added, but it is not so good at distributing that value. Socialism is best at distributing value, but it is not so good at creating it. What we need is social-capitalism, something that ecclectically uses the best of both economies without their downsides.

Although the U.S. alone produces 25% of the world's pollutants, China is rapidly increasing it's contribution to global warming as that nation's ability to create wealth (and therefore pollution) increases. Lest, you think China is an example of socialism creating their new-found wealth...think again. The overwhelming majority of China's production is through private industry...capitalism. So, it is not a coincidence that it's contribution to the world's pollution is on the increase...its production through capitalism is also on the increase.

You are right...capitalism is a major contributor to the Earth's pollution problems. But, as one of your answerers correctly pointed out, capitalism needs a good environment to operate efficiently in. It needs a good environment because the consumers will consume more when they feel good than when they are battling environmental issues, like smog, extreme weather, and so on.

It also needs a good environment because it costs more to produce goods and services in a bad environment than in a good one. Bottom line, capitalism is awakening to the profit side of a good environment. And because of that profit motive alone, private industry is beginning to go green. The hope is that it's not too late to do some good.

Answer 2

Capitalism makes the world go round and has been responsible for most of the things we use today including that computer screen you are staring at. That is how the world is run. Look at any country that is halfway successful and it is run this way. China is also this way and will be the dominant world power within the next 50 years or so. Global warming is still a debatable issue and the warming may not be caused by humans at all but by our own sun. We certanley need to develop other forms of energy for our vehicles so we can get away from fossil fuels and get away from depending on foreign oil. You will never get rid of capitalism and if you did, the world would fall apart.

Answer 3

One has to change the economics of Renewable Energy to save the economies of the 1st world. As fossil fuels dwindle & more go to the well the economics of the 1st world will spiral down.

It is a bizare reality but living at a higher standard of living maybe part of the solution to changing the economics of Renewable Energy. Since the cost of Renewable Energy infrastructure is so high, one has to create SELL-able SPIN_OFF benefits to subsidize its cost.

The items most fall into the catagories the masses have shown they willingly pay a premium for. 1)Comfort/Convienance 2)Recreation 3)Prestige 4)Safety All other catagories they wish government to subsidize i.e. any item required for living.

No country has all the ingredience to design such a solution, but there is a place where one can change the economics by repackaging the model. The solution must have every group invalved win & it is likely to end up being worth 1 years GDP of the US. The investment of the 2 governments most be finacially small, yet at the same time large enough so that the fimancial community will situp & take notice.

The solution is hinted at in the documentary Cadillac Desert.

Answer 4

There are profits to be made from environmental issues-huge profits can be made from better engineering of basic systems that polute without reason. The systems were poorly designed at a time when energy was cheap and clean use of resources was not on the table. Noe that these issues are important poorly engineered systems should be retrofitted with good design. There is absolutely no reason for any polution its a waste of money and reduces profits.

Answer 5

Our planet has gone from Swamps, and a much warmer climate than we now have, when dinosaurs roamed the earth to an ice age with nearly the entire planet frozen. It has cycled between these extremes for eons with no help from mankind. What mother nature can do makes mankinds efforts, good or bad, pale in comperison. Up until about 1970 the scientists were screaming that we were headed for ruination from another ice age which was coming and would wipe out our ability to produce enough crops to feed the population. This is just another rant by a bunch of people who can't prove what they are predicting.

Answer 6

Capitalism is the best thing that ever happen to environmentalism. Capitalism is about private ownership of property and people tend to take care of their own property. If you've never travelled to communist countries you're in for a shock -- they much much more polluted.

As for global warming consider that ice ages come and go. New York was once under hundreds of feet of ice. It melted long ago and without much help from humans. The idea that the CO2 we generate has much affect on the climate is rather improbable.

Answer 7

of course we can change its the little things that help. unplug ur computer wen u shut it off. plug things out that you arent currently using. hug a tree. very little thing helps

Answer 8

don know
is the world's secret society goin to save us cause if u play out game theory,
"we're all goin die"
"we're all goin die"
"we're all goin die"

Answer 9

Yes I am certain you can.