Lecture 15 - Climate change Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the Anthropocene?
A proposed new geological epoch where human activity is the dominant force shaping Earth’s climate and ecosystems.
Who coined the term “Anthropocene”?
Paul Crutzen, to describe the human impact on Earth’s systems, especially through greenhouse gas emissions.
What gases are primarily responsible for the Anthropocene?
Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane, and water vapor.
What is the quote from UN Secretary-General António Guterres about climate change?
“Humanity has become a weapon of mass extinction… we are committing suicide by proxy.”
What is carbon inequality?
The unequal responsibility for emissions, where the richest 1% emit vastly more than the poorest 50% of the world.
What percent of emissions are caused by the wealthiest 10%?
Around 50% of global emissions.
What does Farhana Sultana call the inequality in climate impact?
Climate coloniality – where elites in the Global North pollute, and the Global South suffers.
What fund was created at COP27 to address global climate injustice?
The Loss and Damage Fund.
What did the 1972 “Limits to Growth” report warn about?
That continuous economic growth would exceed Earth’s limits and result in ecological collapse.
What is “green growth”?
The idea that economies can grow while reducing emissions—though it’s debated if this is truly achievable.
What is decoupling in climate economics?
Breaking the link between economic growth and CO₂ emissions.
Who coined the term “Capitalocene”?
Jason Moore, arguing capitalism—not humanity—is the main driver of climate change.
What is “fossil capital”?
Andreas Malm’s term describing how capitalism and fossil fuels are historically linked to maximize profit and speed.
What is the “Plantationocene”?
A framework showing how colonial-era plantations created systems of labor exploitation and environmental extraction still seen today.
What alternatives to current systems are proposed in the lecture?
Degrowth, climate reparations, just transitions, and systems beyond capitalism.
