Giorgio Baldelli 10551328 Assignment 2 Geopolitics of Climate Change

How can I minimize my CO2 footprint? Host internet pages wind-powered servers Dont print my e-mails and readings Travel locally Switch off appliances. Standby doesnt count Turn the heating down/Turn the aircon down Insulate the house Eat locally grown food Wash clothes at lower temperature Eat less meat Walk if possible or take the bicycle Share a car

Short Essay: Minimization versus Maximization

Under the dictatorship of ecologism, we see more codes and standardization, more regulation that stunts economic growth and incentive, more limiting of consumer choices. Taken to extremes, in a world based on ecologism, only saving resources would matter and quality of life would be secondary. In a world of ecologism, taken to extremes: The cost of a plane ticket would vary according to your weight, since heavier passenger s require more jet fuel to be burned than lighter ones do. A person driving a car could be fined for keeping the engine running at red light. The preparation of spaghetti al dente would be mandated (even if you like your pasta soft and mushy) because that would save 20 percent on the power needed. Regular neckties might be outlawed in favor of bow ties, since bow ties require less fabric, which translates into a savings of dyes and water for their production. Everyone would have short hair to minimize shampoo consumption Italian prosecco would be outlawed in favor of French champagne, because the smaller bubbles in champagne off-gas less carbon dioxide.

Source: McDonough, William, and Michael Braungart. The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability--Designing for Abundance. North Point Press, 2013.

The excerpt above depicts a quasi-dystopian society, a dictatorship of ecologism. Despite the obvious exaggeration, worth stressing is that neither of the authors denies the existence of global warming, resource depletion and negative externalities. It might therefore be inappropriate to label them as skeptics. Braungart is a chemist teaching at Erasmus University of Rotterdam and McDonough a designer. Essentially, both advocate for a cradle-to-cradle

Giorgio Baldelli 10551328 Assignment 2 Geopolitics of Climate Change

approach for tackling environmental problems. Contrary to cradle-to-grave production models, cradle-to-grave is defined by the authors as an industrial production process that involves chemists, designers, regulators and the market-oriented interests of companies. The authors argue that the selection of strictly non-polluting materials and an eco-friendly design that facilitates repairing, reusing and recycling could reduce industrial foot-print to zero. Both authors seem to strong supporters of a market-oriented approach to fighting negative externalities. By citing this excerpt I dont mean to depict myself as an advocate for a market-oriented approach. Markets are after all imperfect and prices reflect only the material value of objects. The intention is to show that within the global warming debate, different solutions are proposed. My interpretation is that cradle-to-cradle models are pushed forward, because they could be integrated in the economic system of capitalism. Essentially, the scientists, designers, regulators and companies that are promoting these kind of solutions, argue that it is easier to maintain capitalist market structure alive and thus the idea of perpetual economic growth than finding alternatives. Furthermore, they seem to suggest that the mechanism of maximization is so deeply embedded in societal structures of materially prosperous countries that a sudden shift towards minimization would lead to destructive consequences. As Ive already said Im not defending or stigmatizing the market-oriented approach. I think that the act of minimizing emissions can be empowering, because its ones own actions that contribute to tackling environmental problems. The reliance on market-mechanisms might be perceived as imposing or marginalizing. One is left wondering about what would happen to those who dont have access to the global market economy or refuse to be part of it. If I were a psychiatrist and were to look at how global warming is being tackled, I wouldnt hesitate defining the nature of human beings as schizophrenic: how can we minimize emissions and maximize consumption simultaneously and expect to find a way to tackle environmental problems?