Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All

Climate change is a real issue, but it's not the only environmental problem we face. In fact, it's not even the most pressing concern. Michael Shellenberger, a lifelong environmental activist and leading energy expert, argues that we need to separate science from fiction and look at the bigger picture. Shellenberger has a long history of fighting for a greener planet, from saving the world's last unprotected redwoods to co-creating the precursor to today's Green New Deal. But in 2019, he decided to speak out against the alarmist rhetoric that's been dominating the news. He explains that many people are misinformed about basic facts, such as the decline of carbon emissions in developed nations and the decrease in deaths from extreme weather. Shellenberger believes that the rise of apocalyptic environmentalism is driven by powerful financial interests, desires for status and power, and a deep-seated desire for transcendence. He argues that this spiritual impulse can be natural and healthy, but when it's combined with fear and guilt without love and redemption, it's failing to satisfy our deepest psychological and existential needs.