--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it turns out that global warming and…" description: "\"If it turns out that global warming and ocean acidification are consequences of capitalism's carbon-based energy system, the entire world could end up ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/paul-craig-roberts-3108_capitalism_if-it-turns-out-that-global-warming-and_3133905.png" --- # If it turns out that global warming and ocean… ![“If it turns out that global warming and ocean acidification are consequences of capitalism's carbon-based energy system, the entire world could end up dead from the external costs of capitalism.” quote by Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/paul-craig-roberts-3108_capitalism_if-it-turns-out-that-global-warming-and_3133905.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/paul-craig-roberts-3108_capitalism_if-it-turns-out-that-global-warming-and_3133905.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/paul-craig-roberts-3108_capitalism_if-it-turns-out-that-global-warming-and_3133905.png) > “If it turns out that global warming and ocean acidification are consequences of capitalism's carbon-based energy system, the entire world could end up dead from the external costs of capitalism.” [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that capitalism's carbon energy leads to climate catastrophe, threatening humanity. **In simple terms:** Carbon capitalism may cause global death. Key Takeaway Address climate risks urgently. Themes environment economics risk Mood concerned serious Type political environmental When to use this quote - policy making - energy transition - public health Key Concepts capitalism climate change externalities Questions to Reflect On - What policies can balance growth and climate? - How to internalize environmental costs? A Different Perspective Economic growth may conflict with environmental health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acidification Consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acidification-consequences-5554521/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Capitalism Carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism-carbon-5554519/) [Consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequences/) [Consequences Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequences-capitalism-5554518/) [Costs Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/costs-capitalism-5554520/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Global warming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/global-warming/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Ocean acidification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean-acidification/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Ocean acidification is sometimes referred to as global warming’s “equally evil twin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/ocean-acidification-is-sometimes-referred-to-as-global-warming-s/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [With our evolved busy hands and our evolved busy brains, in an extraordinarily short period of time we've managed to alter the earth with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bernheimer/with-our-evolved-busy-hands-and-our-evolved-busy-brains-in-an/) [Kate Bernheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bernheimer/) > [I believe that climate change is real, is driven mainly by human activity and that it is driving real-world changes such as extreme weather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-drew/i-believe-that-climate-change-is-real-is-driven-mainly-by-human/) [Jeff Van Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-drew/) > [If we return abruptly to a Miocene-like climate, it's reasonable to think that we would experience a lot of extinctions, and maybe even a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/if-we-return-abruptly-to-a-miocene-like-climate-it-s-reasonable-to/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [Nothing is as daunting as the threats associated with global warming. That's the biggie. Everyone bangs on about rising sea levels but the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-winton/nothing-is-as-daunting-as-the-threats-associated-with-global-warming/) [Tim Winton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-winton/) > [Ocean acidification looks suspiciously like a back-up plan by the environmental pressure groups in case the climate fails to warm: another try at condemning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/ocean-acidification-looks-suspiciously-like-a-back-up-plan-by-the/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [Coral reefs, the rain forest of the ocean, are home for one-third of the species of the sea. Coral reefs are under stress for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/coral-reefs-the-rain-forest-of-the-ocean-are-home-for-one-third-of/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [ There are ecosystems like coral reefs \[at risk\] through ocean acidification. Those are valuable things that we should protect. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/there-are-ecosystems-like-coral-reefs-at-risk-through-ocean/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Ocean acidification - the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is turning the oceans increasingly acid - is a slow but accelerating impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/ocean-acidification-the-excess-carbon-dioxide-in-the-atmosphere-that/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [Our biggest challenges for the ocean and for the planet are problems of perception. People need to understand that species extinctions, habitat destruction, ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-widder/our-biggest-challenges-for-the-ocean-and-for-the-planet-are-problems/) [Edith Widder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-widder/) > [The burning of fossil fuels has altered the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere so rapidly and so abundantly that now, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-burning-of-fossil-fuels-has-altered-the-amount-of-carbon-dioxide/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [In Congress, I am focused on the effects of climate change, including ocean acidification and sea-level rise - both of which are threats to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-peters/in-congress-i-am-focused-on-the-effects-of-climate-change-including/) [Scott Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-peters/) > [Hawaii feels so passionately about climate. You know, our oceans are warming. As a result, we have more ocean acidification and coral bleaching. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/hawaii-feels-so-passionately-about-climate-you-know-our-oceans-are/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [Centuries-old habitats such as coral gardens are destroyed in an instant by bottom trawls, pulverized by weighted nets into barren plains. And global carbon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/centuries-old-habitats-such-as-coral-gardens-are-destroyed-in-an/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [“Fahrenheit warmer by the end of this century. This is catastrophic. It will mean more drought, more famine, more rising sea level, more floods,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/fahrenheit-warmer-by-the-end-of-this-century-this-is-catastrophic-it/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) ## More by Paul Craig Roberts > [The great paradox of the civil rights revolution is that instead of enforcing and expanding equality before the law, the revolution created differential rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-great-paradox-of-the-civil-rights-revolution-is-that-instead-of/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [In 21st century America, capitalism has been unfettered from the regulations that democratized it and made it serve society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/in-21st-century-america-capitalism-has-been-unfettered-from-the/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [If liberals can seize our guns because they are dangerous, we have no chance of holding on to our cars and our homes. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/if-liberals-can-seize-our-guns-because-they-are-dangerous-we-have-no/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [War is the only destination to which Washington can lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/war-is-the-only-destination-to-which-washington-can-lead/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The only thing that can be expected from the next US president is more war, more murder, and more oppression of the gullible American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-only-thing-that-can-be-expected-from-the-next-us-president-is/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [Terrorists can endanger some of us, but the war on terror endangers us all. How much more can the Constitution be diminished before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/terrorists-can-endanger-some-of-us-but-the-war-on-terror-endangers-us/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [When America's Newspaper of Record is nothing but a propaganda ministry, what is America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/when-america-s-newspaper-of-record-is-nothing-but-a-propaganda/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [I have no sympathy for debunking human achievements that, in the end, gave ordinary people liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/i-have-no-sympathy-for-debunking-human-achievements-that-in-the-end/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [If all countries are exceptional, the word loses its meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/if-all-countries-are-exceptional-the-word-loses-its-meaning/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [There are no free financial markets in America or, for that matter, anywhere in the Western word, and few, if any, free markets of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/there-are-no-free-financial-markets-in-america-or-for-that-matter/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The notion that Americans can be protected from "terror" by giving up the Bill of Rights is absurd. Democrats are complicit in this absurd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-notion-that-americans-can-be-protected-from-terror-by-giving-up/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [Americans have no idea why they have been at war in the Middle East, Asia and Africa for a decade. They don't realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/americans-have-no-idea-why-they-have-been-at-war-in-the-middle-east/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [There are enough fools in Washington to destroy the country without any help from Muslim terrorists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/there-are-enough-fools-in-washington-to-destroy-the-country-without/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [Every public institution in the United States and most private ones are corrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/every-public-institution-in-the-united-states-and-most-private-ones/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The office of U.S. Trade Representative was created in order to permit corporations to write law that serves only their interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-office-of-u-s-trade-representative-was-created-in-order-to-permit/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) [Explore all 139 Paul Craig Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) ## More Capitalism quotes > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) [F. A. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-a-harper/) > [The free market is ugly and stupid, like going to the mall; the unfree market is just as ugly and just as stupid, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-free-market-is-ugly-and-stupid-like-going-to-the-mall-the-unfree/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Capitalism, communism ... it's all garbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mstislav-rostropovich/capitalism-communism-it-s-all-garbage/) [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mstislav-rostropovich/) > [There are no two countries with the same style of economic mechanism, with the same capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/there-are-no-two-countries-with-the-same-style-of-economic-mechanism/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Socialism is humanity's second nature. All politicians do is turn human vice into votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/socialism-is-humanity-s-second-nature-all-politicians-do-is-turn/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [“Scholars have long debated whether capital markets lead to appropriate levels of saving and investment for future generations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-weimer/scholars-have-long-debated-whether-capital-markets-lead-to/) [David L. Weimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-weimer/) > [“A car is one of the most interesting inventions, but driving is one of the most boring activities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-car-is-one-of-the-most-interesting-inventions-but-driving-is-one-of/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) [Browse all 3,832 Capitalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If it turns out that global warming and ocean acidification are consequences of capitalism's carbon-based energy system, the entire world could end up dead from the external costs of capitalism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Craig Roberts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/if-it-turns-out-that-global-warming-and-ocean-acidification-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capitalism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/if-it-turns-out-that-global-warming-and-ocean-acidification-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/paul-craig-roberts-3108_capitalism_if-it-turns-out-that-global-warming-and_3133905.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/paul-craig-roberts-3108_capitalism_if-it-turns-out-that-global-warming-and_3133905.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/paul-craig-roberts-3108_capitalism_if-it-turns-out-that-global-warming-and_3133905.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If it turns out that global warming and ocean acidification are consequences of capitalism's carbon-based…” — Paul Craig Roberts", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Craig Roberts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If it turns out that global...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/if-it-turns-out-that-global-warming-and-ocean-acidification-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/if-it-turns-out-that-global-warming-and-ocean-acidification-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```