Does Capitalism Destroy The Environment? | Jeffrey Sachs | Escaped Sapiens #64

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  • Опубліковано 12 тра 2024
  • On this episode of the Podcast I speak with economist and public policy analyst Jeffrey Sachs. Jeffrey is Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. He served as Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General for almost two decades, and is co-founder and chief strategist of the Millennium Promise Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending extreme poverty and hunger. In this conversation we cover the question: "Is Capitalism Responsible For the Environmental Destruction We are Seeing Today?"
    ►Find out more about Jeffery's work:
    www.jeffsachs.org/
    sdgs.un.org/panelists/mr-jeff...
    www.sipa.columbia.edu/communi...
    csd.columbia.edu/sachs
    ►What more of Jeffery on UA-cam:
    / @jeffreysachsofficial2023
    These conversations are supported by the Andrea von Braun foundation (www.avbstiftung.de/), as an exploration of the rich, exciting, connected, scientifically literate, and (most importantly) sustainable future of humanity. The views expressed in these episodes are my own and those of my guests.
    Menu:
    0:00 - Introduction
    1:15 - What is Capitalism.
    2:23 - Perverse Incentives.
    7:55 - Do Politicians Have The Power To Stop Environmental Destruction?
    17:45 - How Does Change Happen?
    22:45 - Is Revolution Needed?
    33:00 - Corporate Capture and Poor Incentives.
    40:24 - Where Should We Invest Our Environmental Budget?
    46:36 - Is Capitalism Vs Socialism a Red Herring?
    52:20 - Human Extinction, Nuclear Weapons, Bioweapons?
    ►Subscribe And Turn On All Notifications To See More:
    ua-cam.com/users/EscapedSapi...
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 104

  • @markarmage3776
    @markarmage3776 2 місяці тому +11

    That is a really really dumb question that stems from a lack of understanding of economics and physics.
    How come very complicated questions are always approached with this very simple childish mindset?
    I mean can't these interviewers grow up?

    • @EscapedSapiens
      @EscapedSapiens  2 місяці тому +11

      Thanks for your comment. This is in fact *the* point of the conversation/interview. I don't think it is a stupid question, but I do think it is a bit of a red herring. This is clarified throughout the interview.
      Like it or not this IS a question that people ask and are interested in. People use capitalism/socialism/etc (pick your boogeyman) as a catchall for the problems in the world. This blocks analysis of the deeper underlying issues and stops us moving forward. This interview gives opportunity for the question to be answered in a clear and concise format without shouting or tribalizing.

    • @piercemorris184
      @piercemorris184 2 місяці тому +2

      I will admit its a simplified and vague question, but also a question the normal person like myself would ask if the opportunity to speak to Sachs. His response which described physical and engineering tools, then socioeconomic tools is brilliant, and shows his genuine understanding of the problem at hand. These are the conversations we need the general public to hear to create actual change.

    • @scottohara9001
      @scottohara9001 2 місяці тому

      Capitalism has moved more people out of poverty than any other economic system

    • @Eyy7072
      @Eyy7072 2 місяці тому

      Professor Sachs is just so patient!!

    • @danielhutchinson6604
      @danielhutchinson6604 2 місяці тому

      @@EscapedSapiensCapitalism has created it's own problems with greed.
      The need for profits at any cost, now appear to have driven debt beyond the ability of profits to repay.
      The need to overcome other Nations and take their resources,
      causes the USA to spend more than they produce.
      The $700+ billion military budget, is provided to produce a threat, that insures the entire world is afraid of the USA.
      The threat appears to be lacking in effective strength,
      due to corruption.
      The Pentagon Audits reveal a major portion of the Taxpayers Dollars,
      went to undisclosed locations.
      The desire for profits now makes the NATO Threat seem like more Bluff,
      and less actual ability to be ruthless.
      The employment of subcontractors like Israel are now costing too much.
      The Middle Eastern Investors are no longer buying Treasury Paper.
      The Currency has no actual support.

  • @lisawilliamson5012
    @lisawilliamson5012 2 місяці тому +1

    This is an excellent interview. I'm surprised there are not more views. This is basic stuff that should be circulated far and wide. I'll do my part, starting now.

  • @piercemorris184
    @piercemorris184 2 місяці тому +4

    Great conversation! No disrespect to the interviewer, he did a great job and I am grateful for the interview, but I find it absolutely insane that we have to go to small independent youtube channels to hear someone so influential and globally renowned speak. Jeffery Sachs has such a deep understanding of global and social systems, and his background speaks for itself. Why are people like this not being aired to the mainstream? Maybe we're a little more censured than we'd like to believe.

    • @EscapedSapiens
      @EscapedSapiens  2 місяці тому

      No disrespect taken. I think it has a lot to do with attention. You can help make the content you find valuable more mainstream by supporting the people who are getting the message out. Writing comments like yours, or liking a video, or sharing really helps the little guy one day become more mainstream... Thanks for listening!

    • @user-pr6fd4gp2f
      @user-pr6fd4gp2f 2 місяці тому +1

      I couldn't have said it better myself .

  • @markarmage3776
    @markarmage3776 2 місяці тому +3

    If you give him only a hundred million budget, then the best way of spending it is going to these conferences to convince people to put more money in because that's not enough.
    It's very important how much money you have because that you decide your entire strategy. That's like asking if you want to buy a car, and you only have 100 dollars, which part of the car will you buy, it doesn't matter because after you spend 100 dollars, you still don't have a working car.

    • @EscapedSapiens
      @EscapedSapiens  2 місяці тому

      Here is the point of my question: If I have limited budget, then where does a dollar go furthest? For that 100 dollars can I buy more/better car parts in Dubai or Ethiopia?
      What I wanted to know is: Should I spend budget replacing a reasonably good coal fired plant in Germany with some hydro/wind/solar, or should I rather spend that same dollar replacing dilapidated infrastructure that is potentially far more polluting elsewhere in the world?
      In this case the spirit of the question was not well conveyed to my guest, and so he answers along different lines. Time limitations on the interview meant that I was not able to course correct or dive deeper into the question.
      Cheers.

    • @markarmage3776
      @markarmage3776 2 місяці тому

      ​@@EscapedSapiens Again, it doesn't matter, because 100 dollars ain't enough.
      If you want a realistic answer that represent the realistic solution to the real problem, you need to work with a realistic budget. It doesn't matter if you "go furthest" somewhere, if you don't reach the finish line everywhere you spend it.

    • @EscapedSapiens
      @EscapedSapiens  2 місяці тому

      Realistic agents have budgets. Norway isn't going to solve the climate crisis on its own, but what are the `pain points'? I think it does matter if Norway spends its entire resource budget looking epsilon more green at home if the rest of the world is burning.
      Collectively, where should the world be allocating its resources? What is the leakiest pipe that is easiest to fix right now? That is the heart of my question.

    • @antonmorozov5193
      @antonmorozov5193 2 місяці тому

      @@EscapedSapiens I think correct question would be "What amount of resourses would be enough to start fixing the climate?". Because what is being done now resembles attempt to fix a castle on a middle-class wage - you can ask what would be the most efficient way to start, but it will never be possible to actually acchive the goal.

  • @EroticInferno
    @EroticInferno 2 місяці тому +3

    Excellent conversation

  • @dawnpetty1411
    @dawnpetty1411 2 місяці тому +2

    I thoroughly enjoy listening to everything Jeffrey Sachs has to say and watch and listen and read everything I come across that has been
    produced him.

  • @stuarthayner
    @stuarthayner 2 місяці тому +1

    And we’re still fighting in all those colonies! What the hell we didn’t learn anything

  • @marke4640
    @marke4640 Місяць тому

    Big power "understanding" isn't the problem. It's all about will. The U.S. is a great military machine. We need "adversaries". Where will the cooperation start, given this sad reality?

  • @ziegle9876
    @ziegle9876 2 місяці тому +1

    Suggest you time-travel to the 1980ies, and visit say the CSSR and Netherlands, and compare the environment….. and then say what is “perversely”

  • @deniszovko8274
    @deniszovko8274 2 місяці тому +1

    Jeff for president

  • @marke4640
    @marke4640 Місяць тому

    We have agreement after agreement, without the teeth. Fact is, corporations rule. How affect this?

  • @KatyYoder-cq1kc
    @KatyYoder-cq1kc Місяць тому

    Yes

  • @carlosw1687
    @carlosw1687 2 місяці тому +1

    Great talk. And we must remember that Communism is thought as the next step after Capitalism once a nation has reached a fully developed technological industrial peak. Such was the case of the UK at the times of Karl Marx. Marx never thought of Communism in backwards Russia. Marx thought Communism only possible in the UK, perhaps even France and just maybe, maybe in Germany. Those were the most technological industrial developed countries at the time. The idea of Communism in backwards Russia or Cuba or North Korea or Venezuela could have never occured to Marx.

  • @THEROOTMATTERS
    @THEROOTMATTERS 2 місяці тому

    WERE THOSE WHO LOST THE CIVIL WAR THAT MUCH MORE DETERMINED TO SHOW THEIR DISSENT IN TBE OUTCOME? THERE ARE SOME NASTY PEOPLE OUT THERE, TOO WILLING TO HAVE THEIR OWN WAY...

  • @netrabantawa3439
    @netrabantawa3439 2 місяці тому +1

    Professor Jeffery Sachs Thank you for speaking clearly and boldly 🙏

  • @Sir_Ray_LegStrong_Bongabong
    @Sir_Ray_LegStrong_Bongabong 2 місяці тому +1

    right, right

  • @Quazgaa
    @Quazgaa 2 місяці тому +1

    Jeffrey, I am your moderator Jeffrey

  • @Jeffberg42
    @Jeffberg42 2 місяці тому +1

    Hey! Sachs is invisibilizing Tyndall!!
    (science nerd jest:-)

  • @jim8574
    @jim8574 2 місяці тому

    Yes to reach optimal efficiency yes it does.

  • @BobQuigley
    @BobQuigley 2 місяці тому +2

    There is no Fossil Fuels Fairy refilling the holes. We're going through 100 billion barrels and still growing of oil equivalent fossil fuels energy annually. We must find 100 billion replacement barrels every year.

    • @EscapedSapiens
      @EscapedSapiens  2 місяці тому

      If we started seriously right now I wonder how *soft* the landing could be...

    • @gumby2241
      @gumby2241 2 місяці тому +1

      The writing is on the wall because we aren't finding enough new oil to keep up, so we can expect a scramble to secure the remaining supplies by the strongest nations. Expect chaos and mayhem.

  • @rogerweigel7925
    @rogerweigel7925 2 місяці тому +4

    Sachs nevers seems to have any specific solutions to the problems he talks about.

    • @gumby2241
      @gumby2241 2 місяці тому

      That's because there is no solution beyond using less energy, and that solution will be forced on us as fossil fuel supplies dwindle. No country and virtually no person will agree to volunteer to become poorer and weaker.

    • @glengrant3884
      @glengrant3884 2 місяці тому +1

      Elitist grifter!!🤑🤮

  • @ziegle9876
    @ziegle9876 2 місяці тому +3

    Fossil fuels are everything, but fossil…..

    • @glengrant3884
      @glengrant3884 2 місяці тому +1

      Totally agree!! Coined by Rockefeller for pricing profits!!🤑🤮

  • @christiansmith-of7dt
    @christiansmith-of7dt 2 місяці тому +1

    Johnny pimpleseed

  • @briangrigsby1842
    @briangrigsby1842 2 місяці тому

    quick answer: yes.

  • @frankr29
    @frankr29 2 місяці тому +1

    Sachs defines capitalism as a profit-driven market system where private property predominates. I respectfully disagree. As described in my book, "The Economics of Needs and Limits", the system is defined its economic logic. This includes its goal, production criterion, and assumptions about humans and nature.
    Capitalism's goal is profits and growth, as Sachs indicates. What he ignores are the production criterion (affordable desire), the assumptions about human beings (workers and consumers only, not workers/consumers AND people, and the assumptions about nature (infinite sources and sinks).
    Without this broader definition a meaningful discussion about capitalism's environmental impact is impossible.

  • @macrosense
    @macrosense 2 місяці тому

    Russia certainly seemed…less of a powder keg than the Middle East. And not as hopelessly dysfunctional as sub Saharan Africa.

  • @monicabetti2058
    @monicabetti2058 2 місяці тому

    Humans

  • @genelarson6849
    @genelarson6849 2 місяці тому +1

    Sachs gets confused when he ventures beyond the obvious. to synthesize any solutions is beyond his abilities this takes the clear grasp to string a series of logic to its end i am not fooled by his smug demeanor

    • @glengrant3884
      @glengrant3884 2 місяці тому +1

      Totally agree!! He's an elitist grifter!🤑🤮

  • @busyb8676
    @busyb8676 2 місяці тому

    Thank you for your ending. I have long ago felt that all warring is incredibly stupid and that we will not be a civilized species until we can solve our problems without this stupid behavior,

    • @rabbitcreative
      @rabbitcreative 2 місяці тому

      All competition is inherently destructive. See Alfie Kohn.

  • @vladimirviskovic7572
    @vladimirviskovic7572 2 місяці тому +2

    Baltik county's Are too Woke ❗👎🚳

  • @dannyteal1020
    @dannyteal1020 2 місяці тому +5

    Capitalism does t destroy the environment, people do.

    • @EscapedSapiens
      @EscapedSapiens  2 місяці тому +1

      You will probably agree with/like Jeffrey's answer to the question then :)

    • @BobQuigley
      @BobQuigley 2 місяці тому

      They destroy it using the underlying economic system where they live. Also by trading products between different systems imo

    • @crisismanagement
      @crisismanagement 2 місяці тому

      Religiously induced (capitalism), man has been "ruining the earth" - Revelation 11:18.

    • @piercemorris184
      @piercemorris184 2 місяці тому +1

      People have been existing for a couple hundred thousand years without effecting climate and without capitalism. Sure we may destroy the environment but through these capitalist systems and mindset. We have the potential to destroy but this doesn't mean we have to, therefore we should avoid systems and mechanisms that promote harmful behavior such as untethered consumption.

    • @chrispaul4599
      @chrispaul4599 2 місяці тому

      Bull Shit

  • @robertvanslooten9475
    @robertvanslooten9475 2 місяці тому +2

    No. Stupidity.

  • @gumby2241
    @gumby2241 2 місяці тому +2

    I like the professor for foreign relations, but on renewables and replacing fossil fuels he's not credible. All you have to do is calculate how much total energy is used today and you will find that without fossil fuels we would go back to how people lived in pre industrial times and have as many people alive. Of course this by itself would solve the climate change problem.

    • @boysiedent6149
      @boysiedent6149 2 місяці тому

      A man for all seasons no doubt

    • @pagclaud
      @pagclaud 2 місяці тому

      That is just plain wrong. There is so much energy in sunlight a tiny fraction of the surface of earth covered with PV is enough to easily replace all current energy use in terms of total energy. Also you need about 1/3 as much primary energy if it is electricity because it can be turned into work almost 1:1 as opposed to fossile fuels.

    • @EscapedSapiens
      @EscapedSapiens  2 місяці тому +1

      @pagclaud That's actually the reason why we have the climate crisis to begin with right? There is so much radiant energy coming in from the sun that if we just trap a slightly higher fraction of it we end up warming the planet. I wonder what the additional trapped energy would be when expressed in megatonnes of dynamite. - Would be an interesting numbers game to play.

    • @markarmage3776
      @markarmage3776 Місяць тому

      No buddy, you need to go study real physics and mathematics. The energy used today can easily be replaced by a combination of sustainable energy and more efficient energy management.
      Here's a clue, US ranks number 1 on the wasteful energy consumption. Because your entire country is horribly, horribly planned out. How about you catch up with civilization?

  • @bonnieblodgett
    @bonnieblodgett 2 місяці тому

    Love Jeffrey Sachs but having been on the front lines of this for decades I see no other solution than rationing. This will have to be a topdown process. as in WWII, when people happily reduced their consumption to save their way of life. Our economy rewards consumption of energy-intensive things we don't need. This is the problem. Replacing fossil fuels with "renewables" won't work, unless we're prepared to lose billions of people. Which is it? Allow the rich to get richer and consume an insane portion of our limited resources, or change our economic system from me-first to the greater good?

  • @1danacom
    @1danacom 2 місяці тому +1

    Climate change experts 🤓 right

  • @1danacom
    @1danacom 2 місяці тому +2

    I no longer will be listening to JS