Today’s climate crisis is reinforced and compounded by extreme and growing inequality in the global economy. Climate scientist Bill McGuire clearly sees the connection between the two:
Our climate is being destroyed by unadulterated, free-market capitalism—an ideology that simply cannot be sustained on a small planet with limited resources. It is a system that has no interest in the greater good and that rewards inordinate capital and the few that have it, rather than the majority who don’t. It cares nothing for the environment or biodiversity and doesn’t give a fig about the fate of future generations. In fact, it is exactly the wrong economic system to have in place at a time of global crisis.
An economy that brings lavish rewards to 1% and fails to address the needs and aspirations of 99% is now at a crisis point. This situation has not come about because no one had been paying any attention to the economy. On the contrary, it is a constant focus of attention as Governments and businesses pursue the holy grail of high rates of economic growth. The problem, however, is that when statistics celebrating economic growth are published, these run counter to the experience of most people who are finding that the resources at their disposal are becoming fewer and the task of sustaining life for themselves and their families is becoming harder. It becomes clear that the much-vaunted economic growth is not equitable in its effects. The prevailing economic system is systematically distributing resources so that a wealthy minority becomes even more wealthy while the majority become ever more impoverished.
So complete is the capture of state organs and media outlets by this global neoliberal economic system that it will take something extraordinary to dislodge it. Yet this is what must be achieved if the natural environment is to be sustained and livable human life is to be made possible. The grip of neoliberalism on the human community is expressed by a phrase often attributed to the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher: “there is no alternative.” This conviction is one that faith communities are well-equipped to contest as they experience the divisive and destructive impact of this prevailing economic model. The resources of their faith also equip them to contest Thatcher’s assertion and advocate for justice both locally and globally. Maybe only they have the potential to form a movement with the breadth, vision and tenacity that can transform today’s death-dealing dynamics into an economy of life.
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