Paul Murphy: 'Ecocidal capitalism' driving biodiversity collapse
Paul Murphy warned that capitalist practices are driving a global biodiversity crisis, citing research showing average wildlife declines of almost 70% and a 35% fall in Irish butterfly populations since 2008. He called the situation a sixth mass extinction and blamed land-use change, over-exploitation, pollution and climate change.
Biodiversity evidence
The speech referenced new research showing an almost 70% decline in the earth's wildlife populations over the past 50 years and noted that Ireland's butterfly population is down 35% since 2008. Murphy described these trends as part of a sixth mass extinction event.
Drivers of biodiversity loss
Murphy identified land-use change as the primary driver of the crisis and also cited over-exploitation of natural resources, pollution and climate change. He framed the problem as rooted in a system of "ecocidal capitalism" focused on maximising profit at the expense of the natural environment.
Policy questions for government
While welcoming the citizens assembly examining biodiversity loss, Murphy questioned whether the government will follow through with action. He asked whether the government will designate 30% of seas as marine protected areas, end industrialised monoculture agriculture, pay farmers to rewild and adopt regenerative farming, and expand native afforestation.
Land use review and farming community
A major land-use review was noted as forthcoming and capable of informing future practice. Murphy emphasised the need to engage those who work on the land, including the farming community, saying farmers have long been attached to the land and that food security must be balanced with environmental goals and greater variety of production.
Recent measures and trends mentioned
Murphy said carbon tax revenues are being used to encourage environmentally friendly farming, multi-species swards and technologies to reduce environmental impacts. He also noted a pronounced reduction in fertiliser use this year, attributed to the war in Ukraine, with some beneficial environmental effects.
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There's new research which shows that the earth's wildlife populations have declined on average by almost 70% over the past 50 years. In Ireland our butterfly population is down 35% since just 2008. We are living through the sixth mass extinction event. The report suggests that land use change remains the driving factor behind the crisis and the loss of biodiversity. In addition you have over exploitation of natural resources, pollution and climate change. At root is a system of ecocidal capitalism which is concerned only with maximisation of profit and cares nothing for the devastation of our natural environment and the consequences on that for all of humanity. It's good that we have the citizens assembly examining the question of biodiversity loss but the real question is is the government going to take action? There's no question, I have full confidence in the citizens that they will demand action but is the government going to follow through? Will it implement for example designating 30% of our seas as marine protected areas? Will it end the model of industrialised agriculture based on monocultures? Will it pay farmers to engage in rewilding, regenerative farming? Will it expand native afforestation? The land use is key and there is a major review on the way in terms of land use in the country which will inform future practice in terms of Deputy Murphy's point and again you know we have an agricultural model there. No one's forcing anybody into the agricultural model that we have. Food security is important. Food security, sorry? No, no but sorry, I think you used the word force and farmers have been attached to the land for a long long time in this country. We have to engage with all involved on the land including our farming community and food security is important. We have to balance all of that and I think we do need greater variety of production. We are through the carbon tax revenues encouraging environmentally friendly farming, multi-species swards, greater technologies to reduce the impacts on the environment and not least this year there's been a pronounced reduction in fertiliser for example use brought on by the war on Ukraine but nonetheless having some beneficial impacts in terms of the environment.
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