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Published: June 30, 2020, 8 a.m.

We tend to think of climate change as a problem in and of itself. But what if the climate crisis is a symptom of a bigger issue? What if we can\u2019t solve climate change without social justice?

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Meteorologist Eric Holthaus is the climate correspondent for The Correspondent and author of The Future Earth: A Radical Vision for What\u2019s Possible in the Age of Warming. Today, Eric joins Ross to explain how climate change is a symptom of broader societal inequalities and discuss the role ownership has played in causing the climate crisis. He shares his vision for a cooperative political and economic system based on distributed production that supports the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.

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Eric goes on to explore the complexity of our connections with the each other and advocate for a system of ethics that promotes care work and prevents overconsumption by a privileged few. Listen in for Eric\u2019s insight around what the pandemic has taught us about the potential for a radically different life and learn how actively reducing inequality is the first step in solving climate change\u2014once and for all.

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Key Takeaways

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[1:16] The themes Eric presents in The Future Earth

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• Combination of urgency + optimism (picture of what fighting FOR)
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• Climate change provides chance to fix other structural problems
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[5:20] How quickly \u2018radical solutions\u2019 have become mainstream

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• Demonstrated in numbers published by Data for Progress
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• Example\u2014100% renewable energy seemed out of reach
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[7:26] The relationship between climate and justice

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• Climate change = symptom of broader inequalities + injustice
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• Perspective lends to expanded list of solutions (e.g.: care work)
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[8:08] The role ownership has played in causing climate change

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• Idea of private property consolidated wealth to few
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• Overconsumption by those who control resources
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• Can only survive by caring for each other and our home
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• Must become stewards of objects, own as community
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[17:41] Eric\u2019s vision for our future economic and political systems

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• Yet to be invented, drawn out of ecologically focused world
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• Can\u2019t survive in competitive economic system on finite planet
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• Believe life, liberty and pursuit of happiness possible for all
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[21:35] The concept of distributed production

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• Democratize everything for broader societal goal of cooperation
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• Example of libraries as community resource anyone can use
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[27:58] Eric\u2019s take on toxic masculinity and care work

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• Must understand complexity of relationship to world
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• Develop skills in asking for help, admitting when wrong
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[32:08] How Eric thinks about energy efficiency and overconsumption

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• Break addiction to overconsumption with focus on reducing inequality
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• Wealth tax provides universal access to housing, food and water
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[37:18] The potential for us to lead radically different lives

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• Demonstrated by Coronavirus pandemic
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• Reframe what is and is not necessary (e.g.: air travel)
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• Rebuild purpose of society in zero carbon context
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[40:47] Eric\u2019s insight on travel and the auto industry in the US

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• Bike networks in Amsterdam don\u2019t interface with roads at all
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• Surface areas of cities 30% to 40% car infrastructure
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• Highways built to boost economy but destroy neighborhoods
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