Andrew Ahern is an ecological organizer and freelance writer based in New England. In a recent essay, he reviewed two books which assure us that capitalism can solve the climate and ecological crisis...
Bloomberg journalist Akshat Rathi’s "Climate Capitalism" and data scientist Hannah Ritchie’s "Not the End of the World" bring the reader to a similar conclusion: our existing social and economic system (capitalism) will deliver the necessary technological change due to market forces and government incentives to bring about an age of abundance, human progress, and the world’s “first sustainable generation.”
Whereas Rathi explicitly defends capitalism, Ritchie takes a different approach in defending business as usual. For her, despite a few cracks here and there, capitalism remains a progressive force. While admitting that certain things do need to change, Ritchie relies on highly selective data to tell a story of seemingly endless progress while ignoring studies and alternatives that counter the kind of green capitalism she is selling.
In the end, Ritchie's and Rathi’s books provide insight on how the capitalist class will continue to defend our destructive economic and social system. For those seeking alternatives to green capitalism, these books will help you understand the arguments of the entrenched powers and how we might counter them.
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