Report
Environmentalism
Our position
Caring for the environment and being an environmentalist are not the same thing. Environmentalism centers its politics around the concept of “the environment,” which is either a poor synonym for everything, or an unscientific idea that nature stands apart from people. This leads environmentalists to reify nature as the guiding star for their political claims, falsely asserting dubious positions regarding overpopulation, planetary boundaries, and climate catastrophe as established facts. Tactical choices compound upon this shaky political foundation, producing alarmist rhetoric and abstract protests that neither reflect the prevailing scientific evidence on disasters and warming nor move the public to act. Instead, mainstream environmentalism habitually produces fatalism and polarization.
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Three pieces the team says to read first
Environmentalism work
Research, analysis and everything we have put on the record: comments, testimony, statements, letters and endorsements.
Showing 49–54 of 72
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Analysis
Taiwan and Climate Change
Six views on how it and climate community can work better together
· Breakthrough Staff
Analysis
Effective Altruism Isn’t Unworkably Longtermist or Anti-Institutionalist
Understanding how the social movement really operates shows where it and ecomodernism can be complementary
· Johannes Ackva
Analysis
The Solar Industry and Climate Advocates Can't Wish Chinese Human Rights Abuses Away
To quit Xinjiang, solar may need to quit China
· Seaver Wang
Analysis
Bad Stove Science Is a Roadblock on the Path to Electrification
Actively courting the culture war and reframing everyday activities into eco-nightmares seems likely to generate backlash and suspicion.
· Alex Trembath
Analysis
From Coal to Solar or Wind
Employment and the clean energy transition in India’s coal-producing states.
· Simant Verma
Report
Assessing Federal R&D Funding for Agricultural Climate Mitigation
New Report, "From Lab to Farm," highlights massive R&D funding gap for agricultural climate action.
· Dan Blaustein-Rejto, Emily Bass, Guido Núñez-Mujica
49–54 of 72
Who to talk to
Ted Nordhaus
Founder and President Email
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Questions
What is environmentalism?
Environmentalism refers to social movements that aim to protect nature and reduce human impacts on the environment. Environmentalist thought encompasses approaches ranging from conservation and pollution control to limitations on private consumption.
What do environmentalists believe?
Environmentalists generally seek to protect nature, reduce pollution, conserve resources, and mitigate climate change. They disagree about how to achieve these goals. Some emphasize reducing consumption and development, while others favor technological innovation, clean energy, and economic growth that reduces environmental impacts.
Why are environmentalists against nuclear power?
Not all environmentalists oppose nuclear power. Opposition historically arose out of concerns over accidents, radioactive waste, weapons proliferation, and high costs, as well as broader skepticism of large technologies developed by centralized, technocratic institutions. Many environmentalists now support nuclear energy technologies for their ability to provide abundant, reliable, low-carbon electricity with a minimal environmental footprint.