Chen Feng: Rethinking the Global Climate Crisis by Foreign Leftists in the 21st Century
In recent years, the world has witnessed the intensification of the sustained climate crisis into global natural catastrophes. On one hand, there have been record-breaking heatwaves, forest fires, and droughts; on the other, widespread flooding and mudslides. How to respond to climate change and achieve harmony between humanity and nature is the "question of the times" facing us. In Marx’s view, capitalism is built upon a "metabolic rift" [1] between humanity and the earth; the production process necessary for maintaining capitalist development stands in conflict with the preservation of nature. Based on this, foreign leftist forces—represented by the communist parties, workers’ parties, and leftist scholars of various countries—have profoundly revealed the relationship between the global climate crisis and capitalism from different perspectives, and have conducted new explorations into the relationship between twenty-first-century ecological governance and socialism.
I. The Flaws of Green Policies Implemented by Capitalist States Are Increasingly Prominent
Since the 1980s, neoliberalism, as the dominant trend of thought in the capitalist world, has driven the process of economic globalization while simultaneously giving rise to numerous global problems, a particularly thorny one being climate change. To address the global climate crisis, capitalist states—which advocate for free competition and limited-liability government—have proposed a series of green policies. However, these measures have not only failed to slow the pace of global warming but have also amplified the systemic defects of capitalism. Their flaws have drawn criticism from leftist forces.
(1) Widening the wealth gap and intensifying social contradictions
The green policies implemented by capitalist states serve the monopoly bourgeoisie. The Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties (INITIATIVE) has pointed out that the various agreements on climate change signed between capitalist states actually reflect only the needs and goals of capitalists. Under the dominance of neoliberalism, "carbon emissions trading" in fact exposes the attempt by capitalists to legitimize paid pollution by enterprises so that they may continue to pollute and degrade the environment. Furthermore, the funding for "green growth" in capitalist countries is taken from the ranks of the working class. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM) believes that the contemporary world is in the so-called "Industry 4.0" era, and the neoliberal-led European Union is attempting to reduce carbon emissions through measures such as vigorously promoting new energy vehicles, levying extra environmental taxes and fees, and fining vehicles that exceed emission limits. However, in capitalist society, these green policies are clearly intended to protect the interests of the wealthy, thereby widening the gap between the rich and the poor. The Communist Party of Belgium (PCB-CPB) has explicitly pointed out that the bourgeoisie will reap the greatest benefits from "green" investments and hundreds of billions in government appropriations. The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) in the United States published an article stating that although 450 financial organizations controlling approximately $13 trillion of global wealth have pledged to fund clean energy development, the inherent laws of capitalist development dictate that these investments must prioritize increasing shareholder returns to ensure investors obtain sufficient profits.
The interests of the lower and middle classes have been severely damaged, and social injustice has deepened. British leftist scholar Jonathan Neale argues that carbon taxes are extremely unfair to people with low income levels. Compared to the rich, the poor spend a larger proportion of their income on heating, transportation, and electricity; consequently, the carbon tax they pay constitutes a relatively larger share of their total income. They are thus more likely to feel additional economic pressure, which was a primary reason why the "Yellow Vest" [2] protesters in France took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction. Eve Croeser, a scholar at the University of Tasmania in Australia, points out that the carbon trading markets dominated by capitalist states are likely to lead to the large-scale "land grabbing" of resources within some countries for use as carbon sinks, resulting in the displacement of original landowners and even the loss of their livelihoods. The British leftist publication Socialist Appeal stated that capitalist zero-emission policies primarily serve big business and related interest groups while ignoring the lives of ordinary people. Many ordinary workers face new charges and fines because they drive vehicles that do not meet strict emission standards. "The vast majority of these are low-income London residents who cannot afford the cost of replacing their vehicles."
Class stratification is becoming increasingly severe, and social division is deepening. Belgian leftist scholar Daniel Tanuro argues that the climate crisis is a class issue—a conflict between a small number of beneficiaries and the dispossessed majority. The global spread of neoliberalism has led the bourgeoisie to plunder resources everywhere, infringing upon the interests of ordinary people. Matthew T. Huber, a professor at Syracuse University in the United States, also maintains that the climate crisis is an issue of class struggle. The generation of the climate crisis is essentially the result of the expansion of exploitative production by the bourgeoisie; therefore, the climate struggle is not a cultural struggle against those who consume the most carbon, but a class struggle against those who actually produce fossil fuels. The Party of the European Left (EL) analyzed a report on climate change from 1990 to 2015, pointing out that the wealthy, who occupy an advantageous position in the capitalist mode of distribution, are the primary culprits behind climate change. The party noted that between 1990 and 2015, annual greenhouse gas emissions increased by 60%, and the wealthiest 5% of the population were responsible for as much as 37% of this increase.
(2) The rise of environmental racism and the worsening of regional conflicts
Within Western countries, racial contradictions have intensified, and the social governance deficit has increased. The Communist Party of the USA (CPUSA) has pointed out that in the United States, most landfills, polluting chemical plants, and contaminated water sources are located in areas where minority groups reside, causing resentment and frequent conflicts. The New Democratic Party (NDP) of Canada also emphasizes that environmental pollution and the loss of biodiversity have a greater impact on some of the country’s minority groups, with the consequences of climate change often being borne disproportionately by these marginalized communities. For example, the degradation of the local ecosystem is severe in areas inhabited by Indigenous people, Inuit, and Métis in Canada, yet they hold no positions in the upper echelons of the national power structure and lack a voice, making it difficult for them to effectively protect their rights or participate fairly in renewable energy projects promoted by the government.
The human rights of indigenous inhabitants in developing countries are being infringed upon. The Socialist Party of the USA (SPUSA) commented on its official website regarding the Amazon fires in Brazil, condemning capitalism for violating the human rights of indigenous inhabitants in the region. It argued that in the pursuit of exorbitant profits, capitalism has Ejected indigenous people from their own land, causing them to lose the homes they rely on for survival and even their basic human dignity. The Workers World Party (WWP) of the USA published an article stating that most greenhouse gases are emitted by monopoly enterprises in countries like the United States, Western Europe, and Japan, but those most severely affected are the indigenous inhabitants of some island nations. These inhabitants are forced to confront the destruction of forests and coastal ecosystems as well as rising sea levels. Brazilian leftist scholar Claudia Horn criticizes the neoliberal-dominated carbon trading market for allowing developed countries to compensate for their excess emissions by funding or purchasing afforestation projects in developing countries. This solution assigns additional economic value to forests and territories, which not only provides a channel for multinational corporations in the agricultural sector to obtain profits but also leads to the plunder of the lands and forests of indigenous inhabitants in developing countries, threatening their survival.
The unjust international political and economic order is being further reinforced. The CPUSA has pointed out that the countries most affected by climate change are former colonies in Africa and Asia; however, their industrial development generates the least greenhouse gases. Countries in these regions should not bear the same responsibilities as developed nations and should even receive more compensation. The Communist Party of Canada (CPC) published an editorial noting that Western mainstream media fiercely attack China and India for "blurring" their commitments regarding the phase-out of coal use, but remain silent on the fact that three major capitalist countries—the United States, Australia, and Canada—account for over 50% of the world's coal consumption. Western media paint a picture of countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom leading the way in climate justice against a socialist China that is causing serious environmental pollution. However, the reality is that the ecological crisis, wars, and inequality are the evil consequences of capitalist countries’ efforts to maintain capital accumulation and expansion. Colombian leftist scholar Katja Voigt and others have pointed out that although developed countries have promised to provide climate finance or investment to developing countries, 70% of this is in the form of loans, which increases the debt burden of the recipient nations. Swedish scholar Andreas Malm mentioned that China’s carbon emissions have seen explosive growth over the past 15 years and is thus frequently blamed. But in reality, the goods produced in China are consumed in other parts of the world, especially in the West.
II. Capitalism is the Root Cause of the Global Climate Crisis
Climate change caused by the greenhouse effect has already had wide-ranging negative impacts on humanity and the natural world. If left unchecked, it will lead to severe, widespread, and irreversible crises in ecosystems and social development. In the view of foreign leftist forces, the infinite pursuit of profit by capitalism is the fundamental cause of the global climate crisis, and this crisis cannot be resolved without a thorough social transformation.
(1) Capitalist development is built on the over-exploitation of fossil fuels
The use of fossil fuels has facilitated the rapid accumulation of capital. Most leftist political parties and scholars have pointed out that since the Industrial Revolution, it is precisely the use of fossil fuels that has accelerated the process of capitalist development. The latter's endless expansion and accumulation, along with the irrational logic of pursuing profit at any cost, have pushed the Earth to the brink of disaster. For instance, British leftist scholars Martin Empson and Ian Rappel argue that the capitalist system is essentially a "fossil fuel system." Fossil fuels became the preferred energy source for capitalists because they liberated them from the geographical constraints imposed by reliance on water resources and provided access to large urban populations as a new source of labor. Statistics show that in 2019, 63% of the energy in the United States alone came from fossil fuels, while greenhouse gases produced by global energy production and transportation accounted for three-quarters of the greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. Scholars from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, such as Tetet Lauron, also believe that the global climate crisis is essentially a crisis caused by the continuous expansion of capitalism based on fossil fuel extraction. Climate diplomacy can only work if we abandon "fossil capitalism" as the foundation of our socio-economy.
The use of fossil fuels has deepened the exploitation of workers by capitalists. Andreas Malm points out that the application of the steam engine is a major cause of climate change, but the shift from water power to steam in the British cotton industry was not due to the scarcity, cost, or technical inefficiency of water resources, but because the use of steam allowed capitalists to better exploit labor and control workers. "From the very beginning, the power generated by fossil fuels was dual in meaning and nature," because the emergence of steam "was a form of power of some people against others." British leftist writer Camilla Royle, in her book A Rebel's Guide to Nature (Chinese title translates to: The Plunder of Nature: Capitalism and the Ecological Rift), points out that under the rule of capitalism, both humans and the natural environment are sources of wealth, but only the labor of workers can produce value; non-human elements in the natural world do not produce value. Capitalism plunders natural resources by exploiting labor; the use of fossil fuels is a result of this exploitation and, in turn, facilitates it.
(2) Tension exists between the capitalist mode of production and the governance of climate change issues
Capitalism's pursuit of profit takes precedence over ecological protection. The American website Left Voice states that capitalism is unwilling and indeed incapable of taking measures to end the climate crisis. This is because the crisis is essentially a byproduct of capitalism; eliminating the crisis would simultaneously threaten the capitalist system based on profit and exploitation. Carl Boggs, a sociologist at National University in Los Angeles, criticizes capitalist green policies as a liberal fantasy: ecological sustainability is logically incompatible with endless capital accumulation, growth, and exploitation. Martin Empson and Ian Rappel point out that, as Marx argued, capitalism has caused an irreparable rift in the metabolism between human society and nature. This "metabolic rift" exists because capitalism is a production system interested only in profit maximization, driven by the capitalists' relentless pursuit of accumulating more wealth. The Socialist Party USA also maintains that capitalism has no way to solve either global warming or social inequality. This is due to the profit-seeking nature of both capitalism and the bourgeoisie.
Capitalism pursues a strategy of "short-termism." British leftist scholar Chris Saltmarsh points out that capitalism's net-zero carbon policies are as ineffective as other measures targeting climate change because, under capitalism, "short-term interests always triumph over safety and justice." Martin Empson also notes the short-sighted nature of capitalism and the resulting systemic competition and inefficiency, a situation which means capitalism will ultimately only create unsustainable models of social development. The Communist Party of the Russian Federation believes that the capitalism prevailing in most regions today is a society dominated by market laws whose primary purpose is the extraction of maximum profit. In this social formation, everything becomes a commodity, and money becomes the primary measure of interpersonal relationships. The capitalist mode of production entails the unscrupulous exploitation of natural resources without regard for the dire environmental consequences. Even capitalism's staunchest supporters admit that promoting the development of the productive forces through capitalism's inherent predatory methods will, sooner or later, lead to the premature exhaustion of natural resources and trigger a global ecological crisis.
Green capitalism cannot resolve the contradiction between the capitalist mode of growth and the prevention of global warming. Eve Croeser points out: "If Marx and Engels were writing The Communist Manifesto today, they would undoubtedly begin like this: 'A specter is haunting human society—the specter of extinction.'" She argues that humanity faces a compound crisis of environmental, ecological, socio-economic, and political factors caused by the expansion of capitalist relations of production. Within this crisis, the system's "incurable structural contradictions" become increasingly sharp and threaten the hegemony of the ruling class. Elements within capitalist society are not blind to the hidden dangers threatening their wealth and power; supporters of green capitalism have launched various programs aimed at saving the capitalist system. However, powerful vested interest groups use various means to oppose any action to address climate change. The oil and gas industry and large-scale agribusinesses, in league with financial institutions, are attempting to undermine global economic "decarbonization" plans. Miriam Meissner and Federico Savin, scholars at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, argue that seeking a green capitalism that can promote economic growth while escaping negative ecological impacts is unrealistic. "In the context of the climate crisis, stimulating further economic growth is like hosting a wild COVID-19 party while providing all the guests with tasty vitamin pills that might reduce the infection rate. However, this approach leads to an even greater disaster." The Alternative for a European Capitalist Green Deal published by the Party of the European Left openly declares that green capitalism is a false goal. The sharpening contradictions of capitalist states in areas such as market control, goal setting, institutional formulation, and capital allocation indicate that the prospects for achieving green growth are not optimistic.
(3) Technical innovation under the capitalist system cannot solve the climate crisis
Technical innovation serves the maximization of capital profit. Joseph Schumpeter pointed out in his book Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy that in order to maintain and increase the rate of profit, capital constantly transforms the means of production—that is, it eliminates old technologies and production systems through large-scale innovation and establishes new production systems, ultimately forming a trend of "creative destruction." This view is also accepted by many leftist organizations and scholars. For example, the European Communist Initiative explicitly stated in its 2021 public document that monopolies decide whether to integrate new technologies into production based on profit and the degree of exploitation of workers; this capitalistic development based on profit extraction is precisely the root cause of natural resource depletion and environmental degradation.
Capitalism hinders the practical application of certain new technologies beneficial to solving the problem of carbon dioxide emissions. American leftist scholar John Bellamy Foster points out that many believe the standard way to solve environmental problems in an advanced capitalist economic system is to guide technology toward more benign directions. However, some current technologies have fully developed to a practical stage, yet capitalism will only decide whether to promote them based on interest. For example, the development of modern transport could completely reduce the use of private cars. However, the drive for capital accumulation has pushed advanced capitalist countries down a path of maximum dependence on automobiles, as this is the most effective way to create profit. The automobile industry and its related sectors currently still support capital accumulation in advanced capitalist countries. Additionally, capitalists actively promote the development of energy sources that can bring huge profits to capital, rather than those most beneficial to humanity and the planet; solar energy, naturally, does not belong to the former.
III. The socialist system is the fundamental way out for solving the global climate crisis
Foreign leftist forces believe that to solve the global climate crisis, social relations of production must be transformed along a socialist direction. Therefore, they also actively publicize the superiority of the socialist system and promote the development of the socialist cause in their own countries.
(1) The socialist system can respond to the climate crisis more effectively
The socialist system is more conducive to achieving sustainable development. The European Communist Initiative proposed in 2021 that as long as private ownership of the means of production exists, the global environment will continue to be destroyed. In contrast, socialism, with its central planned economy and the criterion of meeting the needs of the masses, gives laborers the power and realistic possibility to protect the environment; only then can humanity's conscious and planned influence on nature be realized. Only socialism—a socialism where humanity must shoulder responsibility and stop destroying the global ecology—can truly establish an economic system conducive to environmental protection and allow all laborers worldwide to lead sustainable and healthy lives. The Communist Party USA emphasizes that to solve ecological problems and achieve sustainable development, policies must be formulated according to the needs of society as a whole and the requirements of environmental protection, rather than using private property and profit as the basis for decision-making. The permanent solution to ecological problems is socialism.
The socialist system is more conducive to the development of the renewable energy industry. The Party of the European Left clearly stated that the transition to clean energy must be based on national planning and public sector participation to ensure sustainable energy development. Without similar energy policy tools as a guarantee, the industry could face a situation where large multinational corporations and venture capital funds rush in frantically, creating serious speculative bubbles (as happened in Spain). Besides the new energy industry, the public sector in other industries (such as housing, transportation, and agriculture) should also formulate corresponding policies and encourage citizens, researchers, NGOs, and trade unions to actively participate in decision-making.
(2) The socialist system is better able to safeguard the interests of the people
The socialist system can ensure that green policies are accountable to the people. The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) in the United States believes that to solve the problem of global warming, the energy sector and financial institutions must be nationalized, and the wealth these institutions have stolen from workers must be directly applied to implementing policies to reduce carbon emissions. Left Voice published an article stating that for humanity to solve ecological problems, it cannot limit itself to local policy reforms but must achieve thorough systemic change and fight for socialism. Only in a socialist society can natural resources truly be owned and used by the people.
Socialist democracy can guarantee the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. French scholar Michael Löwy points out that the core of eco-socialism is democratic planning—that is, the economy is led by the people rather than the capitalist market or Soviet-style planned economy departments. First, it rescues people from the "economic laws" of the capitalist system; second, eco-socialism means a significant increase in free labor time, providing the basic conditions for working people to participate in democratic management at the economic and social levels; finally, democratic ecological planning means that society possesses the freedom to decide its own destiny. The Socialist Party USA published an article stating that the only way out for a series of environmental problems such as the climate crisis is socialist democracy: "Marx showed us that unless we can create a truly democratic society and discard the false democracy of capitalist countries like the United States, humanity, whether as individuals or as a species, will be unable to reach its full potential." This party believes that rapid capitalist development will only cause more serious environmental destruction, and only socialist democracy can truly achieve the harmonious unity of man and nature.
(3) The global climate crisis highlights the importance of realizing socialism
Capitalism must be replaced by socialism. Foster points out that since technology itself (under the conditions of the current mode of production) does not help us escape our environmental dilemma, we must either accept William Stanley Jevons' conclusion (that technological progress does not help improve the ecological environment) or choose an alternative he never touched upon and obviously never imagined: transforming social relations of production along a socialist direction. American biologist Barry Commoner argues that the capitalist system and its technology—rather than population growth—have led to environmental destruction; therefore, it can be concluded that "a certain kind of socialism" is a realistic alternative. Paul Sweezy, a representative figure of American Marxist economics, also pointed out: "While I believe, at least in principle, that there are some palliative remedies within the framework of the current monopoly capitalist system, I do not believe that fundamental changes in urban structure and the whole of social relations (or an equivalent giant change in the structure of production and consumption) can be achieved without a fundamental change in the social order."
The existential crisis forces the people to choose socialism. British leftist scholar Alex Callinicos emphasizes that global warming is the most serious disaster caused by capitalism's destruction of nature. The existential crisis caused by global warming forces people to take action and seek an alternative to capitalism—socialism. Joel Kovel, a professor at Bard College in New York, and others propose that the ecological crisis is mainly caused by a frantic process of industrialization that has exceeded the limits the earth can bear. Because of its infinite pursuit of profit, the capitalist system constantly affects the ecological balance of nature, causing serious damage to ecosystems. Therefore, for the sake of human survival, the global populace will ultimately choose socialism.
IV. Other effective ways to solve the global climate crisis
While criticizing capitalist green policies, foreign leftist forces are also attempting to improve these green policies so that their results can truly be shared by the people, and they are calling for the socialist movement to be combined with other political movements.
(1) Fair and reasonable low-carbon living
Opposing excessive consumption and promoting green lifestyles. Simon Mair, a researcher at the University of Surrey in the UK, believes that the extensive use of fossil fuels is necessary for capitalist expansion; global warming is not only a result of capitalist development but its very foundation. To avoid a catastrophic climate crisis, one must break the cycle of capitalist expansion based on the supremacy of consumerism; otherwise, technological improvements, the use of renewable energy, and increased energy efficiency will only multiply the ways in which capitalists pursue profit. He advocates for a focused critique of consumerism and calls on the public to shed their obsession with consumption: "Consumption is an ineffective way of building a good life. Collectively limiting our consumption can open the way for a better economic system." The Hungarian Workers’ Party similarly points out that as long as money remains the decisive force in society and society remains a wasteful consumer society, the green climate plans of bourgeois parties are nothing more than talk on paper. Only by overcoming the obsession with consumption can true environmental protection be realized.
Increasing employment opportunities in the new energy sector. Nick Hart, a committee member of the Socialist Party (UK), proposes that in the process of rapid transition to renewable energy production, workers in traditional energy sectors such as oil and gas are highly susceptible to unemployment. Therefore, "workers in traditional energy industries should have a voice in planning the future development of the sector, and at the same time, trade unions should create new job training opportunities for them in accordance with relevant regulations and conditions." American leftist scholar Calvin Priest believes that the use of renewable energy can create more jobs than fossil fuels, but workers in other fossil fuel industries such as coal and oil cannot be ignored; what socialists need to do is unite these workers, provide them with free vocational retraining, formulate new employment plans, and provide full employment. The New Democratic Party of Canada proposed in its party platform that in a future low-carbon life, it will provide Canadian workers with over one million new, good jobs. The party also claims it will strengthen cooperation with trade unions, employers, and local governments to seek solutions for workers and communities heavily affected by climate change—such as providing specialized employment support, subsidizing and funding retraining and job placement services, ensuring that workers can be retained or properly resettled as much as possible during corporate transitions, ensuring that workers can still normally enjoy pensions if they retire early, supporting sustainable agriculture, cooperating with farmers to promote sustainable land management techniques, and so on.
(2) Integrating the Socialist Movement with Other Political Movements
Promoting cooperation between different leftist forces. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM) calls on leftist forces to unite to jointly address climate issues. "The alliance of leftist forces within France has already set a good example, while Czech leftist parties remain in a state of fragmentation. Moving forward, the KSČM will dedicate itself to achieving effective cooperation among domestic leftist forces and establishing a united leftist front." British leftist scholar Alex Callinicos proposes that the only way for humanity to protect itself is to break free from capitalism; thus, rebuilding a powerful leftist force with revolutionary socialists at its core is the most urgent task.
Promoting the combination of the labor movement and the environmental movement. The International Coordination of Revolutionary Parties and Organizations (ICOR) launched an initiative calling on the working class to promote the environmental movement. "The most advanced struggles often occur where the working class and environmental struggles combine. In Latin America, the broad masses are uniting against the privatization of water resources, sewage systems, drinking water, and pollution... Consciously promoting this solidarity is the task of the international Marxist-Leninist and labor movements... Transform the environmental movement into a worldwide mass movement! Unite the labor movement and the environmental movement! Move forward with ICOR! Advance toward building socialism worldwide—only in the unity of man and nature can a path of sustainable and equal development be opened!" This initiative has currently been signed by 32 leftist party organizations.
Promoting the union of various progressive social movements. The Communist Party USA proposes establishing links between the environmental movement and other social movements, such as the labor movement, civil rights movement, women's movement, youth movement, peace movement, and immigrant movement. Australian leftist scholars Brian Tokar and Tamra Gilbertson wrote in their book Climate Justice and Community Renewal: "The world today is full of various initiatives, networks, and organizations... any debate about climate change cannot be disconnected from discussions about colonialism, racism, gender, women's rights, imperialism, exploitation, land grabbing, and other issues. Capitalism will never solve these critical issues, as the struggle for environmental and climate justice must become part of the struggle for a new and more just world."
V. Conclusion
The increasing severity of the global climate crisis has deepened the understanding and awareness of capitalism among leftist forces abroad. The green policies implemented by capitalist countries to solve the climate crisis have brought a series of negative effects, such as the widening gap between rich and poor, the intensification of class contradictions, and the rise of environmental racism. The capitalist mode of production and distribution is the root cause of the global climate crisis; therefore, establishing a socialist system is the only correct choice for resolving the climate crisis. In addition, foreign leftist forces have proposed other effective ways to solve the climate crisis, such as opposing excessive consumption, implementing just and reasonable carbon taxes, increasing more jobs in the new energy industry, and implementing employment training. Furthermore, foreign leftist forces adhere to a progressive stance, seeking cooperation with other political movements to concentrate forces for a joint push toward solving the climate crisis. Looking to the future, if foreign leftist forces wish to play a greater role in resolving the climate crisis, they still need to continuously carry out new explorations in both theory and practice.