Meghan Hodges
The Avengers franchise has been praised for its diverse and strong characters and its engagement with pressing political and social issues. Notably, the films have been described as having not-so-hidden environmental politics. Avengers: Endgame, for example, has been called a climate change movie in disguise, with the villain Thanos' ambitions stemming from his planet, Titan, running out of resources and ultimately being destroyed. Thanos' plan to wipe out half of all life is driven by a Malthusian logic that is familiar to environmentalists. The Avengers, therefore, must save the planet from the consequences of genocide and overpopulation. In the films, the Avengers also face challenges relating to pollution, species extinction, resource use, and distribution, all connected to the broader issue of environmental sustainability.
What You'll Learn
Tony Stark's (Iron Man) use of clean, renewable energy
Tony Stark, the genius behind the Iron Man suit, inherited Stark Industries and continued his father's legacy of creating a clean and sustainable energy source. The Arc Reactor, designed by Howard Stark, Anton Vanko, and Obadiah Stane, aimed to replicate the Tesseract's energy and provide an unlimited power source for humanity's future.
Tony Stark used the Arc Reactor as a power source for his Iron Man armour, but it also had a much broader application. The technology was intended to be the first stage of Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., and Stark Industries HQ in Los Angeles was once powered by an Arc Reactor. Unfortunately, it was destroyed when Pepper Potts overloaded it.
Tony Stark's contribution to clean energy came in the form of improving upon his father's original design. He miniaturized the Arc Reactor, making it more efficient and versatile. During Iron Man 2, Stark rediscovered and synthesized a new element, a clean and safe alternative to the palladium core, which was poisoning his body. This new element, based on his father's original research, created a "perfected" version of the Arc Reactor, saving Stark's life and providing a beacon of self-sustaining clean energy.
Stark Tower, later renamed Avengers Tower, was powered by an Arc Reactor, with an enlarged version capable of providing power for an entire year. This demonstrated the potential for clean energy on a large scale and the possibility of reducing reliance on finite resources.
Tony Stark's work on the Arc Reactor and his pursuit of clean, renewable energy sources reflect a broader societal shift towards recognizing the importance of addressing global warming and transitioning to sustainable energy solutions.
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Thanos' plan to wipe out half of all life
Thanos, the central villain in Marvel's Avengers franchise, has a plan to wipe out half of all life in the universe. This plan is driven by a Malthusian logic that is familiar to environmentalists. The 18th-century scholar Thomas Malthus wrote an essay claiming that populations grow much faster than their food sources, and if growth remained unchecked, it would eventually lead to societal collapse. Thanos believes that the amount of life in the universe is unsustainable and will eventually destroy itself by consuming all resources. This belief is influenced by his own planet, Titan, which ran out of resources and was ultimately destroyed.
Thanos' plan involves acquiring the six Infinity Stones, which will grant him the power to rule the entire universe. With these stones, he can eradicate half of all life with the snap of a finger. However, the problem with Thanos' plan is that he cannot possibly know that it will restore "balance." It is not a good plan because it does not solve distribution problems, and there are already more than enough resources to feed all humans. Additionally, Thanos' plan would have devastating ecological consequences, including the destruction of gut microbes that are fundamental to human health and the loss of pollinating insects.
The Avengers, as the heroes of the story, do not offer a better plan to address resource scarcity and overpopulation. However, they do provide a counterargument to Thanos' extreme environmental agenda, sparking a pop culture conversation about these serious subjects.
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The dangers of green technology
The Avengers franchise, particularly the Infinity War and Endgame storylines, has been noted for its environmental themes. However, the message conveyed through the antagonist Thanos, who seeks to wipe out half of all life to address overpopulation and resource scarcity, has been criticised for equating environmentalism with mass murder. This interpretation of the film's message has been described as "toxic".
The franchise has also been criticised for portraying green technology as dangerous and scientists as untrustworthy. In the original 2012 Avengers film, Tony Stark's (Iron Man) sustainable power source, the Arc Reactor, is co-opted to create a wormhole for alien invasion. Additionally, the film portrays the shadowy law enforcement agency, SHIELD, as subverting research into the environmental potential of the Tesseract for weapons development.
These depictions contribute to a narrative that presents green technology and scientific endeavours in a negative light, potentially undermining public trust in science and environmental initiatives. While the Avengers films are fictional and are not expected to adhere strictly to scientific accuracy, their immense popularity and influence on pop culture cannot be understated.
- Equating environmentalism with extreme measures: Thanos' character portrays a concern for the environment driven by his planet's destruction due to resource scarcity. However, his solution of wiping out half of all life is an extreme and violent interpretation of environmentalism, potentially turning audiences away from environmental initiatives.
- Portraying green technology as a liability: By showing Tony Stark's sustainable power source being used for alien invasion, the film suggests that green technology can be exploited for harmful purposes, implying that such advancements may do more harm than good.
- Undermining scientific endeavours: The subversion of environmental research by SHIELD for weapons development portrays scientists and scientific institutions as untrustworthy and potentially complicit in harmful activities. This narrative could foster public distrust in scientific endeavours and environmental solutions.
- Promoting a false dichotomy: The portrayal of Thanos as a sympathetic environmentalist turned villain suggests a false dichotomy between environmental protection and human well-being. This narrative may lead audiences to believe that addressing environmental issues requires sacrificing human interests, fostering resistance to necessary changes.
- Misrepresenting complex issues: The Avengers films simplify complex environmental issues by attributing ecological problems primarily to overpopulation. While population growth is a factor, the films may overlook other critical aspects, such as industrialisation, consumption patterns, and corporate responsibility.
In conclusion, while the Avengers films engage with important environmental themes, their portrayal of green technology and scientific endeavours as dangerous and untrustworthy can be detrimental. Such depictions may inadvertently discourage audiences from embracing environmental initiatives and undermine trust in the scientific community. Balancing fictional storytelling with responsible messaging is a delicate task, and the influence of popular media on public perceptions of environmental issues cannot be understated.
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Population control
The Avengers: Endgame sees the Avengers grapple with the consequences of Thanos' plan to wipe out half of all life in the universe. Thanos' ambition stems from his belief that his planet, Titan, was destroyed due to a lack of population control. This belief is echoed in his statement: "It's a simple calculus. This universe is finite, its resources are finite. If life is left unchecked, life will cease to exist. It needs correction."
Thanos' plan for population control assumes that the Earth has a natural 'carrying capacity', a maximum number of people the planet can support because resources are finite. However, there is no strong scientific evidence to support this assumption. Additionally, Thanos' plan overlooks the influence of social, political, and economic processes on resource access. While the average global food supply exceeds the minimum dietary energy requirement, food doesn't reach everyone due to uneven access, indicating that the problem is not overpopulation but rather unequal distribution.
Thanos' actions do have some positive side effects, such as reducing pollution and promoting long-term biodiversity on Earth. With fewer people, there would be less pollution, and microplastics in the guts of marine mammals, for example, could be reduced. Additionally, the rate of species extinctions is driven by factors such as land use, hunting, and climate change, and a smaller population could positively impact these factors.
However, Thanos' plan for population control is not the only solution to resource scarcity. Scholars suggest alternative solutions, such as local food production, circular economies that minimize waste, and low-carbon energy sources within sustainable energy grids. These solutions could create a world that is sustainable for everyone without the need for drastic population reduction.
Overall, while Thanos' plan for population control in Avengers: Endgame sparks important conversations about environmentalism and resource management, it is not the only or most effective solution to addressing the complex issues of pollution and biodiversity.
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Climate change
While the Avengers films do not directly address how the titular heroes prevent pollution, the films do contain several themes related to climate change and environmentalism. Avengers: Endgame, the concluding half of Avengers: Infinity War, is an environmental movie that reflects society's imagination of a world affected by climate change. The film's antagonist, Thanos, is driven by a Malthusian logic that is familiar to environmentalists. Thanos' home planet, Titan, ran out of resources and was ultimately destroyed, leading him to believe that population control is the answer. His plan to wipe out half of all life in the universe is a reflection of the broader environmental goal of restoring" ecological balance.
The Avengers films also explore the potential dangers of green technology and the distrust of scientists and environmentalists. In the original 2012 Avengers film, Tony Stark's (aka Iron Man) sustainable power source, the Arc Reactor, is co-opted to create a wormhole entry point for an alien invasion. Additionally, the shadowy law enforcement agency, SHIELD, subverts research into the environmental potential of the Tesseract, an alien object with infinite energy, for weapons development. This theme of distrust in green technology and scientists recurs throughout the franchise.
Despite the Avengers' efforts to address climate change and environmental issues, some critics argue that the films may not provide answers to these complex problems. Instead, they reflect society's fears and imagination of a future affected by ecological disasters.
In conclusion, while the Avengers films do not explicitly depict how the heroes prevent pollution, they engage with themes of climate change, environmentalism, and the potential consequences of human inaction. The films spark conversations about resource scarcity, overpopulation, and the potential for human extinction due to climate change. Through their portrayal of these issues, the Avengers films contribute to a broader discussion about the future of our planet and the potential consequences of inaction.
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Frequently asked questions
The Avengers: Endgame movie is about the remaining Avengers dealing with the aftermath of Thanos, a genocide-survivor-turned-supervillain who wiped out 50% of the universe. The movie is an environmental one, with an important message about resource scarcity and overpopulation.
The movie reflects concerns about adequate supplies of freshwater, population booms, and the broader debate over human-caused climate change. Thanos' ambition is driven by his planet, Titan, running out of resources and ultimately being destroyed.
The Avengers do not directly prevent pollution in the movie. However, they do save the planet by defeating Thanos, whose plan to wipe out half of all life is driven by a Malthusian logic that the link between human numbers and environmental harm justifies genocide.
The Malthusian logic followed by Thanos originates from 18th-century scholar Thomas Malthus, who predicted that rising human numbers would inevitably lead to widespread poverty and famine. Thanos believes that population control is the answer to environmental degradation.
The Avengers defeat Thanos and his radical solution, but the concern for the planet dissolves. The movie ends with a warning about the future of the planet and the potential for human extinction.
