Description
Nature is Priceless
Book Summary
This essay, promoted by the Attac France movement, offers an incisive and up-to-date critique of the appropriation of nature by financial capitalism. Through the analysis of concrete cases such as biodiversity, climate, and fossil resources, the work reveals how the green economy has become a new front for global commodification. The reader will find a well-founded denunciation of the mechanisms that transform natural common goods into lucrative commodities, from biofuels to carbon markets, and a reflection on the future of the planet if this drift is not halted.
What is it about?
The book analyzes the current phase of capitalism, where nature is perceived as a new frontier for accumulation. Starting from the 2012 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, it examines how the discourse of the "green economy" covers up processes such as the financialization of natural resources, the creation of carbon markets, and the patenting of life. Three key areas are studied: biodiversity, climate, and mineral and fossil resources, showing how large transnational corporations and technoscientific projects convert ecological functions into marketable "ecosystem" services. The work warns that, without social opposition, nature could be transformed into a gigantic enterprise producing services controlled by financial funds.
Main themes
- Critique of green capitalism and greenwashing as accumulation strategies.
- Commodification and financialization of natural common goods (water, air, biodiversity).
- Analysis of biofuels, carbon markets, and patents on living organisms.
- The role of transnational corporations and financial funds in the appropriation of nature.
- The transformation of ecological functions into lucrative ecosystem services.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in critical economics, political ecology, and social movements. It is especially relevant for those seeking to understand the connections between the global financial system and environmental degradation, as well as for activists, social science students, and anyone who wants a rigorous and documented view of the mechanisms of the green economy.
What this book offers
- A current and well-founded denunciation of how financial capitalism appropriates nature.
- Concrete cases and detailed analyses of the commodification of biodiversity, climate, and fossil resources.
- Keys to understanding the concept of "ecosystem services" and its use as a new global commodity.
- A critical perspective that invites reflection on the future of common goods and collective action.
Technical specifications
- Author: Various Authors, Attac France
- Publisher: Clave Intelectual
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: Economics, Environmental Economics, Welfare Economics, Finance and Accounting, Mathematics and Science, Science: General Issues, Technology: General Issues
- Collection: Economics
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: September 2012
- Number of pages: 144
- Weight: 234 g
Editorial review
This is a short but incisive essay that offers a critical and well-documented view of the intersection between economics and ecology. Its approach, devoid of technical jargon, makes it accessible to a wide audience without losing rigor. It is especially useful for those seeking an alternative to the dominant discourse of the green economy, providing tools to understand the power dynamics underlying the commodification of nature. It is a recommended read to complement debates on sustainability, environmental justice, and social movements.