Final answer:
Environmental crises are considered inherent to capitalism from a political economy perspective, as they are linked to the system's exploitation of the environment. While some scholars advocate for sustainable development and innovation, others propose degrowth by reducing production and consumption. Balancing production with environmental quality is a universal challenge, addressed through both governmental regulation and market-oriented solutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to a political economy perspective, environmental crises are seen as inherent and normal in a capitalist economy. This view suggests that environmental crises are among the inescapable consequences of capitalism, as the mechanisms that generate wealth and innovation also contribute to such crises. The argument made by social ecologists and various scholars is that capitalism inherently involves exploitation of the environment, which leads to degradation and crisis. Additionally, this perspective recognizes the challenges faced by less industrialized countries, where survival needs can make environmental concerns secondary.
However, there is a stream of thought within this perspective that emphasizes possibility of change. Some scholars advocate for strategies such as sustainable development, utilizing innovation, technology development, and regulatory intervention to align economic growth with environmental conservation. At the same time, there are those who believe that society must fundamentally alter the capitalist mechanisms that generate the crisis, promoting ideas like degrowth, which involves reducing levels of economic production and consumption.
Every country, regardless of its economic system, faces the challenge of balancing production with environmental quality, and different approaches have been suggested to address these issues. Traditional policies have involved governmental limits on pollution, while more flexible, market-oriented policies have been proposed as means to reduce pollution at a lower cost.