Capitalism, Science, and Nature: Environmentalism's Dilemma

Introduction: Capitalism and the Environment

One can understand capitalism as a system that supports environmentalist principles, since it can influence people to emit as few toxic substances as possible. However, capitalism can also promote polluting behavior, as individuals are likely to disregard the damage they do to the environment as long as they generate large profits. It is difficult to determine whether capitalism has a positive effect on the environment or whether it negatively affects it. While numerous supporters of capitalism sustain themselves by protecting the environment, others exploit nature regardless of the consequences of their actions.

In its struggle to assist the environment, the general public has focused on controlling activities that have a destructive effect. However, in order for nature to recover — or even to remain at its current level of degradation — pollution needs to be stopped altogether. The masses hold limited decisional power, while influential actors are essentially in charge of environmental health.

Globalization, Imperialism, and Environmental Consequences

Imperialism and capitalism are primarily responsible for the process of globalization and for supporting technological progress. To a certain extent, this has been beneficial for the world as a whole, given that concepts such as peace and freedom are now available to a greater number of individuals. Environmentalism partly emerged as a response to capitalist theories, in an attempt to reduce the degree to which capitalists exploited environmental resources in the pursuit of financial gain. Environmentalists used capitalist principles and managed to compel capitalists to pay for the damage they inflicted on the environment.

Capitalists can no longer exploit their property regardless of the consequences, since "the environmental movement on the nation-state level has provoked a clash between the expansionary logic of property rights and personal rights by promulgating legislation that has required the protection of public air, water and land, and non-human life" (Seis 123). Because of the influence capitalism wields, environmental laws are crafted in ways that limit their effect on capital growth. Capitalism essentially contradicts ecological principles, which is why environmental laws are needed in order to reduce the damage it does to nature (Seis 123).

Why Environmental Programs Fail Under Capitalism

Environmental programs most often fail because they cannot function within the contemporary capitalist system. Capital accumulation must be uninhibited in order for capitalism to thrive, and this cannot happen if it is constrained by laws protecting the well-being of nature. What people must understand is that it is impossible to reach a genuine compromise by supporting capitalism and environmentalism simultaneously. Capitalism currently dominates the political landscape, making it almost impossible to preserve nature's health (Seis 123).

Through the analysis of various trade agreements, it appears that the international community is more concerned about the well-being of transnational corporations than about that of the environment, placing the interests of capitalism ahead of those of people. Despite its drawbacks, capitalism is nonetheless a profitable system when it comes to short-term benefits. It enables society to advance rapidly and effectively. However, this progress comes at the expense of the environment, whose health is largely ignored by the general public (Seis 123).