Climate Quote by Barry Commoner
“Our economic system treats environmental degradation as an externalitya cost that does not enter into the conventional arithmetic that determines how we use our resources”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Closing Circle, 1971
Economic models ignore environmental damage, treating it as an external cost, leading to unsustainable resource use.
In simple terms: Ignoring ecological harm skews true costs.
Key Takeaway
Integrate environmental impacts into economic decisions.
Themes
economics
environment
sustainability
Mood
concerned
hopeful
Type
academic
activist
When to use this quote
- policy making
- business planning
- education
- activism
Key Concepts
externalities
resource allocation
systems thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we price nature’s services?
- What incentives can align profit with planet?
A Different Perspective
Complex to may resist change due to entrenched interests.
