Politics hates a vacuum. If it isn't filled with hope, someone will fill it with fear.
Naomi KleinRead
We have a structural problem because you can simultaneously understand the medium to long-term risks of climate change and also come to the conclusion that it is in your short-term economic interest to invest in oil and gas. Which is why, you know, anybody who tells you that the market is going to fix this on its own is lying to you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the conflict between understanding climate change and pursuing short-term economic gains in fossil fuels.
Naomi Klein's statement reveals the intrinsic conflict in modern economic systems where the immediate financial benefits of investing in fossil fuels clash with the long-term existential threats posed by climate change. She argues that recognizing the urgency of environmental issues does not align with the profit-driven motives of the market, indicating a need for proactive intervention rather than reliance on market solutions to address climate challenges.
Themes
Climate ChangeEconomic InterestsFossil FuelsEnvironmentMarket Failures
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about corporate responsibility, this quote could be used to highlight the need for sustainable practices in the energy sector.
More from Naomi Klein
All quotes βBecause it is such a huge crisis, because it puts us on a firm science-based deadline, it's a once-in-a-century opportunity to build a better society and address raging inequality, create huge numbers of jobs, rebuild our public infrastructure. But, we can't do it unless we break every single rule in the free-market playbook. Which is why the worst people in the world all deny climate change.
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Terrorism doesn't just blow up buildings; it blasts every other issue off the political map. The spectre of terrorism - real and exaggerated - has become a shield of impunity, protecting governments around the world from scrutiny for their human rights abuses.
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Everybody that's trying to get anything progressive done in this country knows that the biggest barrier is getting money out of politics.
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I think I would say that there is absolutely no way to reconcile an austerity agenda with climate action. Our political class needs to understand that the fight against austerity and the fight for climate action are the same fight.
Naomi KleinRead
I think the fossil fuel industry is genuinely freaked out by the combination of the price collapse, the divestment movement, and that fact that renewable energy is getting so cheap so fast.
Naomi KleinRead
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