Capitalism’s climate change policy failure


The following extract is from an article in the Socialist (issue 799) by Pete Dickenson published following the winter floods of 2014.

What is a long-term answer to the problem of flooding? First and foremost, this means tackling the root causes of climate change by switching to renewable energy, which could reduce the intensity of weather events, such as storms and floods.

Decisive action in this area, although crucial, will take decades to have an effect, so action is needed now to increase the capacity of the countryside to absorb rainfall, which has been significantly reduced by over-intensive agriculture, as well as strengthening flood defences.

Clearing uplands for sheep grazing has reduced the capacity of the land to absorb rainfall. Research has shown that full reforestation could reduce flooding peaks by 50%.

A policy to increase the capacity of the earth to hold water has been rejected by Cameron, in favour of dredging, but reforestation in the tropics to deal with flooding is a policy supported by his own government through the Department for International Development.


Planning for the planet

How socialism could save the environment – by Pete Dickenson

£9.95

Available from Left Books

www.leftbooks.co.uk

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Socialism Today

The Socialist Party’s magazine

December/January issue

Special edition: Socialism or ecological catastrophe

Including: 25 years of climate talks hot air, the anthropocene age, why capitalism can’t go green, Marxism and the environment, and Green parties are not enough

Subscribe for £18 a year at www.socialismtoday.org