SLOW DOWN

A Japanese author argues that combatting climate change requires an alternative to capitalism.

In this English translation of a popular Japanese title, Saito, a professor of philosophy at the University of Tokyo, warns that capitalist strategies for addressing the ever-escalating climate crisis are fundamentally flawed. Whether it’s the Paris Agreement, the Green New Deal (which the author calls “Green Keynesianism,” or Nobel laureate William Nordhaus’ economic models, our approaches to climate change make the dire mistake of prioritizing economic growth over ecological repair. “To determine which direction is right, we must trace the current climate crisis to its root cause,” writes Saito. “The root cause is capitalism, and understanding this is key. The enormous increase in carbon dioxide emissions began…with the Industrial Revolution…when capitalism first began to truly operate in the world.” The author advocates for “degrowth,” the benefits of which were evident during the pandemic: When the global economy slowed down, worldwide ecological indicators improved. To achieve degrowth, Saito argues for a new economic system based on Marx’s approach to communism, which avoids authoritarianism while democratizing the means of production. Indeed, the author begins the book with a clear rejection of what he calls “Soviet” communism. In contrast, writes Saito, we must turn to a Marxist model. “We must all manage the earth together,” he writes, “as the ultimate commons.” While many readers may find the idea of communism off-putting—something the author acknowledges in the book’s introduction—his alternative to capitalist consumption is surprisingly practical. Saito’s clarity of thought, plethora of evidence, and conversational, gentle, yet urgent tone—even when describing the most alarming aspects of the climate crisis—are sure to win over open-minded readers who understand the dire nature of our global situation and that “green capitalism is a myth.”

A cogently structured anti-capitalist approach to the climate crisis.