Great write up. The terms “greenwashing” and “capitalist realism” came to mind looking over this.
Greenwashing: The marketing for these “Natural Asset Companies” is based on the common misunderstanding that businesses exist to perform a role. In fact businesses exist to profit and performing a role could be a means to that end. The only reason this idea exists is because some clever people believe this kind of green-looking presentation will yield profit. Every single thing about this idea is subject to change according to finance, the economy, shifting opportunities, etc except that it is a vehicle to generate profit and that’s the only thing it is.
Capitalist Realism: This idea that an investment-based economy driven by capital is natural to us or the Earth flares up in the strangest places. To fight nature, which is capitalists leveraging their assets for a return on their investment, we must allow capitalists to leverage their assets for a return on their investment though use of our green-looking company. Nature almost certainly has existed prior to humanity and will presumably exist after humanity. Companies, assets, and money did not exist prior to humanity, did not exist for most of human history, and will cease to exist entirely when there are no longer humans who believe in them. The framing of this article is strange as it regards capitalism as the natural force and the very environment as the impermanent construct we have to protect from nature (capitalism).
Great write up. The terms “greenwashing” and “capitalist realism” came to mind looking over this.
Greenwashing: The marketing for these “Natural Asset Companies” is based on the common misunderstanding that businesses exist to perform a role. In fact businesses exist to profit and performing a role could be a means to that end. The only reason this idea exists is because some clever people believe this kind of green-looking presentation will yield profit. Every single thing about this idea is subject to change according to finance, the economy, shifting opportunities, etc except that it is a vehicle to generate profit and that’s the only thing it is.
Capitalist Realism: This idea that an investment-based economy driven by capital is natural to us or the Earth flares up in the strangest places. To fight nature, which is capitalists leveraging their assets for a return on their investment, we must allow capitalists to leverage their assets for a return on their investment though use of our green-looking company. Nature almost certainly has existed prior to humanity and will presumably exist after humanity. Companies, assets, and money did not exist prior to humanity, did not exist for most of human history, and will cease to exist entirely when there are no longer humans who believe in them. The framing of this article is strange as it regards capitalism as the natural force and the very environment as the impermanent construct we have to protect from nature (capitalism).