Why social, racial, and economic justice are just as crucial as
science in determining how humans can reverse climate catastrophe
We are facing a climate catastrophe. A plethora of studies describe the
damage we've already done, the droughts, the wildfires, the
super-storms, the melting glaciers, the heat waves, and the displaced
people fleeing lands that are becoming uninhabitable. Many people
understand that we are facing a climate emergency, but may be fuzzy on
technical, policy, and social justice aspects. In Is Science Enough?,
Aviva Chomsky breaks down the concepts, terminology, and debates for
activists, students, and anyone concerned about climate change. She
argues that science is not enough to change course: we need put social,
racial, and economic justice front and center and overhaul the global
growth economy.
Chomsky's accessible primer focuses on 5 key issues:
1.) Technical questions: What exactly are "clean," "renewable," and
"zero-emission" energy sources? How much do different sectors (power
generation, transportation, agriculture, industry, etc.) contribute to
climate change? Can forests serve as a carbon sink?
2.) Policy questions: What is the Green New Deal? How does a
cap-and-trade system work? How does the United States subsidize the
fossil fuel industry?
3.) What can I do as an individual?: Do we need to consume less? What
kinds of individual actions can make the most difference? Should we all
be vegetarians?
4.) Social, racial, and economic justice: What's the relationship of
inequality to climate change? What do race and racism have to do with
climate change? How are pandemics related to climate change?
5.) Broadening the lens: What is economic growth? How important is it,
and how does it affect the environment? What is degrowth?
