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Is capitalism driving climate change?

Scientists say the world is in the midst of a "climate emergency". According to NASA, February smashed global temperature records. And, with this year on track to become the hottest year on record, has the world failed on climate change? In this special episode of UpFront, we speak to renowned author and activist Naomi Klein about why she sees a link between capitalism and climate change. In the Reality Check, we look at who fuels the climate change denial machine. And in the Arena, we ask UN Climate Chief Christiana Figueres if the Paris agreement is too little, too late when it comes to addressing the man-made global phenomenon. Naomi Klein is known as one of the world's best critics of big corporations and uncontrolled capitalism. In her most recent book, This Changes Everything, the activist and author says one cannot take on climate change without also addressing capitalism. In this week's Headliner, Mehdi Hasan speaks to Klein about why she sees a link between capitalism and climate change. "The idea that we can deal with climate change within the confines of our current system is exactly what we've been trying for two decades, and it's failed miserably," Klein says. "If we want to avoid climate change, we need system change," the author adds. Klein also calls last year's Paris deal, in which nearly 200 countries agreed to address climate change, a "potluck approach". "There are things that are really important in the Paris deal," she says, but the "UN didn't want to tell governments what they were going to do, they just said, 'OK, everybody go home and make your best effort, and fingers crossed when we add it all up it'll match up with our stated goal.'" Reality Check: Why you shouldn't trust climate change deniers As the list of scientists who agree man-made climate change is real continues to grow, there's still a small, but vocal group who deny the phenomenon. Among the loudest of the deniers are those within the US Republican Party, man

English
  • Originally Aired March 18, 2016
  • Runtime 25 minutes
  • Network Al Jazeera
  • Created March 20, 2016 by
    Administrator admin
  • Modified March 20, 2016 by
    Administrator admin