A debate was held on Camosun’s Lansdowne campus on Thursday, February 5 regarding the role of capitalism in climate change.
Camosun instructors Becky Mason and Bijan Ahmadi argued that capitalism can resolve climate change; Peter Ove and Larry Hannant, also Camosun instructors, argued that capitalism cannot solve the environmental shift.
“I think in general I was looking for the other side to talk more about the solution to the problem, rather than identifying what the problem is,” says Mason, looking back on the event. “I don’t find it constructive to lob accusations at the other side without proposing something that’s going to fix the problem.”
But Ove says it was “important to look at the cause, because without people understanding what the cause is they will not believe or agree to that solution.”
Both Ove and Mason agreed that the debate went well, that there was good attendance, and that the audience seemed engaged and lively.
Looking ahead, Mason says that our government needs to take action by focusing on their relationships with other countries regarding climate change issues.
“We need to be part of the solution,” she says. “I keep coming back to that.”
Ove also believes government has a responsibility and it has to start with people demanding a change in our government, he says.
“We need a change in the way our government deals with climate change,” he says. “Trying to get people to just change their behaviour is not successful enough. The one thing I always say to get people thinking about climate change is, ‘Think about your grandchildren.’”