Whycantcapitalism

besustainable?
System Change
Not Climate Change
The Ecosocialist Coalition
System Change Not Climate Change: The Ecosocialist
is a network of individuals and groups dedi-

world. Find out more and get involved at www.System-

ChangeNotClimateChange.org
Although science has increasingly demonstrated the se-
riousness of the ecological crisis, the problems keep get-
ting worse. Governments have failed to take action to
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this failure lies in the social system that dominates the
worldcapitalism. Several features of capitalism make
it contrary to any solution of the ecological crisis:
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such as a transportation system that forces everyone to own a car rather than
building publicly-owned transit.
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cisions, such as building sprawling suburbs when a compact city would be more
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8QFRQWUROODEOH JURZWK In order to be healthy, a capitalist economy
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tors which make the system produce the wrong things in the wrong way, this
means that capitalist production continually breaches ecological limits.
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talists at the expense of workers and the planet, so they wont consider regula-
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now, we have to build a working peoples movement that challenges the power of
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and institute a truly democratic, ecosocialist society.
Whatsrequiredfor
realsustainability?
The imbalanced relationship between human societies and ecology is causing a
widespread, deep crisis. Most of the ecological systems humans depend on are cur-
rently in decline, including, the climate, oceans, soil, and biodiversity. To reverse
this, we need a society where economic and social decisions are made on the basis
oI socIuI need und ecoIogIcuI prIncIpIe, noL prIvuLe prohL. or exumpIe:
3ODQQLQJSURGXFWLRQ within ecological cycles, avoiding resource depletion
and recycling/disposing of waste sustainably.
3ODQQLQJ DJULFXOWXUH to take advantage of natural cycles, minimizing the
need for pesticides and chemical fertilizer and eliminating monoculture.
3ODQQLQJFLWLHVDQGWRZQV in order to support sustainable agriculture, di-
versify urban ecosystems, and reduce energy use through public transit and better
construction practices.
0DLQWDLQLQJ ELRGLYHUVLW\ everywhere, including in agriculture and cities
(not just nature preserves) in order to maintain healthy ecosystems.
*HQHUDWLQJHQHUJ\ from renewable sourcesthe sun, wind, and tidesre-
ducing the use of carbon-based fuels to a minimum
6XVWDLQDEOHGHYHORSPHQWZRUOGZLGH to increase all peoples well-being
und reduce LIe socIuI pressures LIuL Ieud Lo popuIuLIon growLI und excessIve ur-
banization.
To accomplish these tasks, we need a society thats egalitarian and truly democratic,
which provides for all peoples basic needs. Its clear that this incompatible with the
unpIunned, IrruLIonuI, und prohL-drIven cupILuIIsL sysLem. We need u revoIuLIonury
transformation that creates a new social systemecosocialism.
System Change
Not Climate Change
The Ecosocialist Coalition
System Change Not Climate Change: The Ecosocialist
is a network of individuals and groups dedi-

world. Find out more and get involved at www.System-

ChangeNotClimateChange.org
Whatwillanecosocialist
societylooklike?
System Change
Not Climate Change
The Ecosocialist Coalition
System Change Not Climate Change: The Ecosocialist
is a network of individuals and groups dedi-

world. Find out more and get involved at www.System-

ChangeNotClimateChange.org
An ecologically sustainable society would look radically different from the individu-
alistic, capitalist-dominated society we currently live in. Among others, such a so-
ciety would have these features:
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ing principle of the economy would be to meet the needs of people and the eco-
systems we depend on. This would allow us to produce in the ways that are most
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LQGXVWU\ZKLFKDUHRQO\QHFHVVDU\IRUPDNLQJSURWVXFKDVDGYHUWLVLQJ
&ROOHFWLYHMore things would be held and enjoyed in common, such as pub-
lic transit, parks and recreational facilities, healthcare and quality education.
This would reduce waste as well as give everyone access to social goods.
3ODQQHG We need economic planning in order to allocate resources in the
best way possible for people and the planetto build cities instead of suburbs,
wind farms instead of coal plants.
'HPRFUDWLFDemocracy is essential for successful planning. When workers
and communities are empowered to make decisions about production, they will
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peoples needs.
0RUH IXOOOLQJ Because wed be producing to meet peoples needs rather
than to fabulously enrich a small elite, we could reduce the workweek, freeing
people to develop their talents and live with more leisure time.
We believe such a societyan ecosocialist societywould be better to live in: for
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one had secure access to healthcare and education. Although its in the interest of
the majority of the worlds people, such a society is incompatible with the current
capitalist society we live in. Join us in organizing for the revolutionary social trans-
formation we urgently need.
Whatcouldwedonowtostart
buildingasustainablesociety?
System Change
Not Climate Change
The Ecosocialist Coalition
System Change Not Climate Change: The Ecosocialist
is a network of individuals and groups dedi-

world. Find out more and get involved at www.System-

ChangeNotClimateChange.org
The climate crisis and other ecological problems keep getting worsein spite of the
fact that there are many things society could do now to start reducing societys eco-
logical footprint and building a sustainable society. For example:
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companies will burn all the coal and oil they cansocialization is the only way to
be sure that the carbon stays in the ground. Immediately end all new fossil fuel
development and expand renewable energy development; put utilities under the
democratic control of workers and consumers.
([SDQGWUDQVLW Cease all new road construction; convert existing auto fac-
tories to produce and expand production of public transit and rail transport.
End subsidies to the auto and coal industries; instead subsidize free public tran-
sit for all.
6XVWDLQDEOHDJULFXOWXUH End agricultural subsidies for large-scale mono-
cropping; instead subsidize sustainable agricultural practices.
5HGXFH ZDVWH Ban excessive product packaging, plastic bags, and other
sources of waste. Shut down incinerators and develop recycling and compost-
ing.
5HGXFHWKHZRUNZHHNZLWKQRORVVLQSD\ Use the technological gains
in productivity weve made over the past decades to give workers greater free
LIme, ruLIer LIun producIng more Ior prohL.
'HIXQG WKH 86 PLOLWDU\ In addition to being an enforcer of unjust and
ecologically destructive practices around the globe, the US military is a massive
source of carbon emissions and pollution.
In addition to addressing the ecological crisis, such programs would end unemploy-
ment and poverty, improving most peoples lives. But our government wont pursue
sucI meusures, becuuse LIey run counLer Lo LIe prohL moLIve. To ucIIeve susLuIn-
ability, we need to build a movement strong enough to force the state to actand,
ultimately, to overthrow it and replace it with one that answers to working people.
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System Change
Not Climate Change
The Ecosocialist Coalition
^ E d
is a network of individuals and groups dedi-

world. Find out more and get involved at ^-

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In order to build an ecological movement that can win real change, we need to high-
light anti-racist politics, for a number of reasons:
Commonities oI color ure the most uIIected by ecologicul destroc-
tion. In the United States and internationally, working-class and poor people
pay for the destruction caused by the rich. The struggle against environmental
racism has to be part of the ecological struggle.
Oppressed commonities ure on the Irontlines oI ecologicul stroggle.
Urban and rural communities of indigenous people and oppressed nationalities
have been struggling for decades against industrial pollution, the destruction of
sustainable practices, and the effects of global warming. We must ally with the
struggles that are already going on.
These ure ghts Ior environmentul jostice, going beyond small reforms
to envision a society free of oppression and
ecological destruction. For more information
about environmental justice, see the Principles
of Environmental Justice: www.ejnet.org/ej/
principles.html
Liberution stroggles strike ut the heurt
oI the system. From Manifest Destiny to toxic
waste dumping to wars for oil, racial and na-
tional oppression has gone hand in hand with the exploitation of the earth. The
struggles of oppressed communities, including Black people, Native Americans,
and Latinos, are central to overcoming the rapacious capitalist system.
Building real allegiances with oppressed communities means concretely supporting
their struggles. Sometimes its argued that its divisive or a distraction for the eco-
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whats divisive is excluding anti-racist politics from the movement. To build a truly
united struggle which has the power to win, we must foreground the demands of
oppressed people.
Howshouldweorganizeto
solvetheecologicalcrisis?
The demand for an ecologically sustainable society presents a radical challenge to
capitalism, and we must struggle for in a radical way. Here are some ideas about
how to push the struggle towards a revolution-
ary vision and strategy:
1R FRPSURPLVH We cant compromise
our demands. We wont settle for continued
reliance on fossil fuels in any form, including
caps and carbon taxes that let polluters keep
polluting.
7KLQNV\VWHPLFDOO\ We must put individ-
ual struggles in context, looking at the ecological crisis as a whole and its relation-
ship to social problems. For example, a struggle against toxic waste dumping in
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and the prison-industrial complex.
%XLOGVROLGDULW\ We need to build allegiances between the ecological move-
ment and the struggles of communities of color, womens struggles, and work-
ers struggles. We prioritize the demands of oppressed and exploited people and
ally with militant, democratic struggles like the Chicago teachers strike.
&RQIURQW FDSLWDOLVP Individual dirty corporations make great targets,
but we also need to expose how their actions are part of an oppressive system.
While we target corporations, we must also challenge the capitalist state that
supports them.
%H LQWHUQDWLRQDOLVW To ensure sustainable development everywhere, we
need an end to imperialist exploitation of the developing world. We stand in
solidarity with workers and farmers struggles around the world (as well as colo-
nized peoples in the US) and demand an end to neoliberalism and US militarism.
'HPRQVWUDWHDOWHUQDWLYHVOur words and actions point to a better soci-
etyone in which the economy and society are under the control of working
people, and we mobilize democratically to solve social and ecological problems.
System Change
Not Climate Change
The Ecosocialist Coalition
System Change Not Climate Change: The Ecosocialist
is a network of individuals and groups dedi-

world. Find out more and get involved at www.System-

ChangeNotClimateChange.org
Howcanwemaketheecological

System Change
Not Climate Change
The Ecosocialist Coalition
System Change Not Climate Change: The Ecosocialist
is a network of individuals and groups dedi-

world. Find out more and get involved at www.System-

ChangeNotClimateChange.org
Its clear that the climate crisis requires an international solution, and equally clear
that the worlds governmentsparticularly the US and other advanced capitalist
countriesare unwilling to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Its up to our move-
ments to solve the crisis. Here are some ideas for building international solidarity
in the ecological movement:
Iocos on whut onites working people uroond the world-exploitu-
tion, oppression, und u common stuke in oor Iotore. In their competi-
tion for power, governments attempt to turn us against each otherfor example,
by pointing to the greenhouse gas emissions of China and India. International
solidarity rejects these divisions and builds ties around the world between labor,
environmental, and peoples struggles.
Stund uguinst climute imperiulism. The elites of the US and other devel-
oped countries are trying to force the developing world to pay the cost of their
own environmental devastation, as part of a broader imperial strategy. We de-
mand environmental rehabilitation and sustainable development around the
world, paid for by the riches amassed by corporations and the elite.
emund un end to neoliberulism. The
US military, World Bank/IMF, and global cor-
porations impose destructive, capitalist models
of development on much of the world. We
stand for dismantling the global US military,
cancelling the Third World debt, and against
trade policies which privilege corporations like
Monsanto over local, sustainable agriculture.
UN climate talks have fallen apart because the capitalist governments of the worlds
rich countries act in their own self-interest. But the worlds people have a common
self-interest in an ecologically sound and just society. To win the struggle for such
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rialist machinations of the US government.