Eshelman describes a report supported by some highly influential capitalists warning about the economic consequences of climate change to their capitalist enterprises.
The report, titled "Risky Business," is the first comprehensive assessment of the economic risks of climate change to the United States. It was commissioned by a panel of influential business leaders and former government officials, including hedge fund billionaire Tom Steyer, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Bush administration Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.I scanned the report for any specific recommendations, but could find none. So, I don't think we can infer from the report that our masters as a ruling class will do anything substantial about this threat. The goose of capitalism lays far too many golden eggs of wealth and power for this tiny class for them to seriously do anything about it. Too many of them are aware that to do anything serious would result in the killing of their goose. Like alcoholics most of them will continue to deny that their habits are destructive, and continue with fantasies about having their goose and a sustainable planet. So, the question remains: are we going to allow them to destroy the planet's biosphere that can support human and other life forms?
...Page's [Executive Chairman of Cargill and co-author of report] concern about the potentially catastrophic consequences of climate change on US food production has been rejected by the members of Congress who most benefit from Cargill's political contributions. Among the leading recipients of Cargill campaign cash are House Committee on Agricultural Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Vice Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), all of who seek to strip the US Environmental Protection Agency of its ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
Cargill did not respond to a request for comment on how Page's call for action on climate change conflicts with the views of those the company supports financially.
