The Carbon Market and Capitalism

According to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family...

Carbon markets are designed to undermine this right by making it a commodity. By putting an economic value on a stable environment and the release into the atmosphere of harmful greenhouse gasses, we are essentially putting a dollar figure on a basic human right. What's next? The right to free speech? Education? Life?

I just got out of a conference where it was presented that people could take part in the carbon markets through reforestation efforts. I think reforestation efforts are great. When I asked about the moral implications of the carbon market, however, I got the pat answer - It's better than nothing. And hey, money for growing trees!

Meanwhile, the ability of people all over the world is being infringed. Why don't people attack the root of the problem instead hacking at the branches? The heads of the hydra are being lopped off but no cauterization is taking place.

It's the disenfranchised people of the world who will have to bear the burden. Climate change will most greatly affect those who are least well-equipped to handle it. If my house becomes flooded, I move. If my entire country becomes flooded (Bangladesh), where do I go?

I agree that something has to be done. But putting all of the eggs in the carbon market basket is inherently dangerous. The many heads of the hydra must be eliminated systematically and completely. Further, new steps must be taken in place of the out-moded methods we have hitherto relied on. Walkable communities, housing choice, wind and solar energy harvesting, nuclear power, it all must be considered in order for eventual victory to be achieved.