Political Economy of Climate Disruption - Part 2
In part 2 of [ECO]NOMICS, Professor Juliet Shor introduces the political economy approach to climate change, as an alternative to the usual economics. This direction links action and inaction to economic and political interests. Who has an interest in continuing to emit greenhouse gases, who is benefiting, and who is bearing the costs? The political economy turns the focus on the companies, countries, and people who are disproportionately responsible and have a strong interest in the status quo. Prof. Schor shows how fossil fuel companies have spent vast amounts of money and effort in influencing public opinion and capturing politicians, to forestall government action on climate change. Solving the political economy problem requires new ways of thinking about transcending the interest-based politics that has led to climate inaction.
