How greed is devouring our planet

Roz Paterson on impending environmental catastrophe

Since the industrial revolution 250 years ago, we have burned half a trillion tonnes of carbon. At the current rate of consumption, we will have burned a further half a trillion tonnes within 40 years.

Which means we have a problem.

Because, according to a newly published report in Nature, we can burn only half a trillion tonnes more. Either that, or face a global temperature rise of at least two degrees centigrade – the tipping point at which climate change becomes climate catastrophe.

No-one can really imagine what that might mean. What we know for sure is:

•    Food and water will be in short supply – not just in areas where drought and famine are already known, but almost everywhere
•    Species upon species will be wiped out, causing eco-systems to collapse like decks of cards
•    Soil will erode, seas will rise, and human civilisation as we know it will become just another endangered animal.

Some say we’re looking at a return to the 14th century, some kind of feudal darkness that will engulf us all. Others suggest that four fifths of the world’s population will be wiped out, with those who remain living like fugitives.

It’s terrific fun for sci-fi writers – but with so much information and technology available to us, it’s a crazy place for us to be.

So how did we get here?

Through greed. Pure and simple.

Without the lever of greed, capitalism just does not work. The whole system is driven by people who push for more and more at the expense of everyone and everything else.

Capitalist corporations are greed machines, programmed to pursue nothing but profit and money, and to stop for nothing, not even for the end of the world.

Without our consent, the whole shoddy system would grind to a halt. But they’ve got us at it too. We’re bombarded with advertising urging us to want more stuff, to buy more stuff, to eat more stuff, even though it leaves us gorged, sick and broke.

Somehow, culturally, greed has been re-branded as a sexy, vital trait. Yet it is destructive and deadly.

We could end up paying a heavy price for the profiteers who wring out every last penny from the planet’s resources, without a thought for tomorrow.

Yet we need tomorrow, much more than we need anything else, no matter how up-to-date, fast or funky.

Unless greed is contained, our world will be eaten up.

We have half a trillion tonnes of carbon left – are we going to stand here and let the corporations burn them up for fast cash?

Or will we fight to save our planet by standing up to the masters of greed?