Olivier De Schutter says new economic agenda needed to tackle crises of rising inequality and ecological collapse

The global economy must be reordered to ensure it serves ordinary people around the world rather than the “frivolous and destructive demands of the ultra-rich”, according to a leading UN figure.

Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, says politicians must stop prioritising “socially and ecologically destructive growth” that only increases the profits – and serves the consumption demands – of the world’s richest individuals and corporations.

Instead, to tackle the interwoven crises of rising inequality, ecological collapse and resurgent far-right politics, a new economic agenda is needed.

“The scarce resources we have should be used to prioritise the basic needs of people in poverty and to create what is of societal value rather than serve the frivolous desires of the ultra-rich.”

  • wuffah@lemmy.worldEnglish
    141·
    13 hours ago

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7229519/

    Human activities are elevating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to levels unprecedented in human history. The majority of anticipated impacts of anthropogenic CO2 emissions are mediated by climate warming. Recent experimental studies in the fields of indoor air quality and cognitive psychology and neuroscience, however, have revealed significant direct effects of indoor CO2 levels on cognitive function. Here, we shed light on this connection and estimate the impact of continued fossil fuel emissions on human cognition. We conclude that indoor CO2 levels may indeed reach levels harmful to cognition by the end of this century, and the best way to prevent this hidden consequence of climate change is to reduce fossil fuel emissions.

    The full end‐to‐end model thus predicts indoor cognitive performance (for the particular studied cognitive processes) as a function of outdoor CO2 concentration. Under these assumptions, the model predictions are quite arresting (Figure 3). On the unmitigated CO2 emission pathway (RCP8.5), we may be in for a ~25% reduction in our indoor basic decision‐making ability and a ~50% reduction in more complex strategic thinking, by the year 2100 relative to today.

    This is just one study of many that are beginning to document the effects of the exponential rise of atmospheric CO2 on human cognition. As this effect increases, it continuously gets worse. Even if we begin to reduce CO2 emissions, cognitive effects remain until atmospheric CO2 falls below acceptable levels over decades at best. All six billion of us will literally become retarded by carbon dioxide in the next 50 years if we’re lucky.

    A disproportionate amount of CO2 emissions come from billionaires. Even eliminating them may not save us. But if you want a good place to start, execute every billionaire and their families first. Sorry, but the ultra-rich need to die tomorrow and they aren’t going to. :(

    The predictions about the ubiquity of billionaires are my own however. Take them with a grain of salt I suppose. Without extreme and significant change, I predict this will be the last 100 years of humanity we know it.

    Enjoy your life and spend time with your loved ones while you can.