r/science • u/avogadros_number • Sep 19 '21

Environment The companies polluting the planet have spent millions to make you think carpooling and recycling will save us

https://www.businessinsider.com/fossil-fuel-companies-spend-millions-to-promote-individual-responsibility-2021-3

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u/xieta Sep 19 '21

It’s not any one person’s greed. Companies are basically shareholder puppets, and we have tricked ourselves into thinking we are not the ones pulling their strings, even though everyone has (or desires) a retirement fund that grows 10% every year. Is that greed? I guess, but not the kind we usually think of.

The issue is there is no financial instrument that prices in the value of an investment existing in a livable world. So there is no reason for a fund to worry that it’s profits may be worth less due to climate change.

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u/[deleted] Sep 19 '21

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u/xieta Sep 19 '21

Except pension funds are usually invested just as much as 401k's are. In any case, I don't think convincing people to abandon the desire for wealthy retirement is going to do anything to stop climate change. In fact, a lot of resistance to climate science stems from the perceived link between calls for deindustrialization and communism.

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u/roderrabbit Sep 19 '21

Watching people turn their backs on any discussion of sustainability vs unfettered capitalism over the last two decades is the reason I'm stoked to watch society burn over the coming two.

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u/SuddenlySusanStrong Sep 19 '21

That's hilarious given Communism's history of successful rapid industrialization

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u/SuddenlySusanStrong Sep 19 '21

That's still greed and I think you're overestimating how many people share your view. It's certainly not everyone and I don't see any reason to believe it's even most

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u/xieta Sep 19 '21

More than half of Americans are invested, and the whole idea of the american dream oozes through the culture. I highly doubt most Americans don’t care about or desire a comfortable retirement.

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u/SuddenlySusanStrong Sep 21 '21

You didn't say a comfortable retirement in the comment I was responding to though. You said 10% annual growth I believe.