As the world greets a new Earth Day in the face of looming climate change, Greens condemn an alarming trend in corporate investment aimed at increasing control and manipulation of resources in response to climate change.

Corporations are gaining control over renewable energy resources and rights to necessities such as water and food in anticipation of increasingly severe effects of climate change. At the same time they are retaining control of fossil fuel resources and engaging in the very activities that are creating climate related disasters.

Financial strategists such as Merrill Lynch use “climate analytics” to project where problems may affect their portfolios, offering investors advice such as buying up water rights and investing in vertical farms and security operations.

“And why not? By controlling money and issuing it as debt, the top capital holders control everything, including directing the economic development of our entire society. This trend is deliberately aimed at increasing short-term gain with blatant disregard for all life,” said Howard Switzer, co-chair of the Green Party Banking and Monetary Reform Committee.

“Manufactured scarcity of necessities like water and food create financial and political instability, leading to more opportunities for greater concentration or resources and control by the few. This is devastating to poorer and marginalized communities,” said Rita Jacobs, member of the Green Party of Michigan.

The Green Party calls for an ecological approach aimed at empowering communities to create thriving local economies. This will enable us to develop sustainable, clean, regenerative energy and food production to maintain control over our own lives, and achieve our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050, over 1990 levels. 

Greens assert that this humane alternative is not only possible but within our reach: “In order to effectively deal with climate change we need a new democratic, debt-free money system to curb destructive growth,” said Jody Grage, member of the Green Party of Washington and secretary of the Green Party of the U.S. “It's easy to realize that the imperative for exponential growth makes little sense given the limits of our finite planet. We must re-direct economic policy and transition to prioritizing regenerative agriculture, shifting investment to local economies, co-operatives, solar and wind energy, recycling, reducing energy consumption, and increasing efficiency.

Added Switzer: “Anything physically possible, ecologically wise and socially desirable is also financially feasible. ‘Public control of the money supply will allow the debt-free funding of human and environmental needs such as healthcare, education, and rebuilding our national infrastructure for the 21st century realities. It is a system based on care instead of personal gain.’” 

For more information:

How Big Business Is Hedging Against the Apocalypse
New York Times, April 11, 2019

Climate Chaos Is Coming — and the Pinkertons Are Ready
New York Times, April 10, 2019

To deal with climate change we need a new financial system
The Guardian, November 5, 2016

Climate Change Could Destroy His Home in Peru. So He Sued an Energy Company in Germany.
New York Times, April 9, 2019

Green Party Platform: Economic Justice & Sustainability

Green Party Platform: Ecological Sustainability

Green Party: Banking and Monetary Reform Committee

Greening the Dollar
Banking and Monetary Reform Committee

The Green New Deal

Additional Information
Green New Deal | News Stream