[eeeeeeeeeeeee]

I definitely understand that viewpoint (China and other Asian countries say similar things). And specifically for Asia, much of that pollution is technically originating in the west, we’ve just outsourced a lot of our pollution to Asian countries.

The environmental impact of industrialization needs to be built into the cost of goods. Capitalism can solve many of these problems, but right now pollution practically has no associated cost to the end price, which is why we use the cheapest materials that cannot be recycled.

America needs to change dramatically before we can make substantial progress here; we can be the world leader in this issue. But I guess I’m not that optimistic considering the politics right now.

[zaro]

> Capitalism can solve many of these problems Do you really think so? I would say that capitalism and the economic models that support it are one of the main factors we are in this situation.

[eeeeeeeeeeeee]

I’d like to think so hah, but I’m not 100% either. It seems it would be easier to integrate the true (or close) environmental cost so there is a negative profit impact, instead of twisting people/countries to do the right thing. Because right now we basically incentivize environmental destruction because it’s cheaper in an economic sense.

I agree with you that capitalism is the origin of many of these problems, though. Doesn’t mean it can’t evolve.

[pjc50]

The non-capitalist systems didn't fare much better. The Soviet Union was largely responsible for exterminating whales, without even getting much use from them: https://psmag.com/social-justice/the-senseless-environment-c...