Brett Christophers (Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University) will be presenting his work on “The Price is Wrong: Why Capitalism Won't Save the Planet”
What if our understanding of capitalism and climate is back to front? What if the problem is not that transitioning to renewables is too expensive, but that saving the planet is not sufficiently profitable?
This is Brett Christophers' claim. The global economy is moving too slowly toward sustainability because the return on green investment is too low.
Today's consensus is that the key to curbing climate change is to produce green electricity and electrify everything possible. The main economic barrier in that project has seemingly been removed. But while prices of solar and wind power have tumbled, the golden era of renewables has yet to materialize.
The problem is that investment is driven by profit, not price, and operating solar and wind farms remains a marginal business, dependent everywhere on the state's financial support.
We cannot expect markets and the private sector to solve the climate crisis while the profits that are their lifeblood remain unappetizing. But there is an alternative to providing surrogate green profits through subsidies: to take energy out of the private sector's hands.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
This event is in collaboration with the Energy Policy Research Group.
When: Thursday 13th of February
10.00-11.00 Talk & Q&A
11.00-12.00 Coffee, Pastries, and Networking
Where: Judge Business School, Room W2.01
Zoom: You can also join us virtually on Zoom.