Summary Of This Changes Everything: Capitalism Vs Climate

In This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate, Naomi Klein takes a brutally realistic approach towards the global crisis that is climate change. Through examining the causes, possible solutions, and necessary socio-political transformations that must occur to promote a sustainable Earth, Klein pinpoints the origin of the extreme environmental abuse that has emerged since the early 19th century: capitalism. Capitalism drives a focus on monetary profit gain, and does not consider the massive cost of environmental exploitation. The proponents of more environmentally friendly practice have been unable to battle against the short term economic growth seekers. According to Klein, “right now capitalism is winning hands down” (Klein, 2014, pg. 63). Humanity must be proactive about the environmental threat to life-as-we-know-it, but it will require the abolition of old ideals and the promotion of new, progressive ways of thinking.
The microcosmic tale of the solar panel manufacturer, Silfab, illustrates this theme perfectly. With the hopes of advancing and promoting their solar energy technology, Silfab moved to Ontario. However, as the Canadian local trade encouragements began to infringe upon the profits of other first world nations, these nations filed against Canada’s policy with the World Trade Organization. Although the plant would likely have progressed renewable energy efforts and supported the United Nations’ plans to decrease emissions and limit warming trends, profit came before these “shared goals.” In this capitalist system, it is unrealistic to assume that the goal of sustainability and preventing environmental catastrophe can be placed ahead of short sighted monetary growth. To solve this issue of prioritization, the current order cannot be maintained and a new way of thinking about the world is