Socialism and the Green question

[Left Voice]

A curious thing struck me when reading up on the party policies of most existing socialist and communist 'parties' - a black hole when it comes to comprehensive green policies and tackling global warming. I am aware of the Eco-Socialism tendency of course, but beyond a vague conclusion that global warming is a direct result of global capitalism, there seems to be quite little in terms of theoretical basis. Of course, I DO believe that global warming is a result of global capitalism, but we socialists are presumably going to need to do more than point out where the blame lies - socialists need to explain what would be done better, differently under a socialist system and explain why a socialist system wouldn't succumb to the same practices.

Of course, the likes of Marx and Engels didn't focus on these issues, they are from a time when global warming was largely unrecognised. Nevertheless, global warming absolutely is an issue that socialists need to be able to combat and reverse. I would argue that it is not irrelevent to the working class.

Are there any established works that deal with this issue and proposes a plan of action for socialists, communists, and others on the left with regards to global warming, and green issues in general?

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Communism must also be green. If there's one thing that can truly prevent a post-scarcity economy, it's widespread environmental devastation.

[Left Voice]

It is surprising. Given the fact that wilful ignorance, denial of global warming and science in general is a constant trait of global capitalism due to its reliance on the blind growth of consumerism which thus relies on an ever-increasing usage of natural resources, it is strange that this is a largely overlooked subject for many communists.

[Red Economist]

The only book I've read (more like dipped into) on the subject is Derek Wall's The Rise of the Green Left.
I think environmental issues are a bit of a problem for Marxism because as a theory it heavily emphasizes economic growth as the measurement of social progress and how far man has a technological and scientific 'mastery over nature' is part of Marxist conception of freedom. This is one of the reasons why the Soviets had such a poor environmental record, such as with Chernobyl Nuclear accident and the drying up of the Areal Sea (due to excessive irrigation for agriculture).
This sharply conflicts with green agendas to do with the depletion of natural resources (e.g. Peak Oil) and throws up problems with climate change as well. So, I suspect their is alot of debate as to whether the solutions are technological or sociological or a mixture of both.
However, in the book, Wall does actually use quotations of Marx in a more environmentally sensitive way, but I don't know whether to take this seriously or not.

It might be worth looking into the (small?) environmental movement in the early USSR, of which Alexander Bogdanov was a member.