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Gustavo Petro delivers masterclass at UNAM on climate crisis and capital accumulation

Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro delivered a masterclass titled "The Capital in the 21st Century: Economics of the Climate Crisis" at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The lecture, held at the Alfonso Caso auditorium, addressed the accumulation of capital as a primary driver of the climate crisis, specifically highlighting how the use of oil, coal, and gas to increase profit rates leads to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental disasters. Gustavo Petro argued that the current global reality is defined by a competition between barbarity and humanism. He criticized the "neoliberal failure" that has contributed to wars, genocides, and a lack of production. During the lecture, Gustavo Petro also noted that the accumulation of capital is strengthened by right-wing governments, including the United States and the current presidency of Colombia. 1 Prior to the lecture, Gustavo Petro met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. During this meeting, Gustavo Petro rejected an offer to remain in Mexico for academic activities, choosing instead to live in Colombia. During the meeting, Gustavo Petro discussed the risks of United States interference in Latin American electoral processes and asked Mexico to observe regional elections. The event was attended by several notable figures, including Palestinian ambassador Nadya Rasheed and Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchə Ñ. The audience, consisting of students and the general public, waited over three hours for the lecture to begin. Gustavo Petro also announced that the Fondo de Cultura Económica (FCE) will publish his new book in Spanish for the world's Spanish-speaking audience.

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