Novara Media Downstream IRL: There’s No Such Thing As Green Capitalism w/ Andreas Malm
Nov 18, 2024
Andreas Malm, a human ecologist and author of works like Fossil Capital, joins Ash Sarkar to dissect the fraught politics surrounding climate change. They question the feasibility of technological solutions like BECCS and the proper limits for global warming. Malm critiques the delusions of green capitalism, arguing that it often prioritizes profit over genuine environmental efforts. The discussion also touches on the alarming risks linked to climate intervention technologies and the challenge of maintaining focus on climate amid global crises.
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Overshoot Ideology
- The concept of "overshoot" in climate modeling suggests exceeding warming limits (e.g., 1.5°C or 2°C).
- It relies on future technologies to draw down CO2, allowing a later return to acceptable limits.
Carbon Capture Skepticism
- Andreas Malm is skeptical of carbon capture technology, particularly bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS).
- He argues it's currently fictional and would require vast land resources, potentially impacting food security.
Stop Emissions First
- Malm agrees on the need to remove CO2 but emphasizes stopping emissions first.
- He compares the situation to an oil spill, where stopping the leak is crucial before cleanup.
