--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you ask what you are going to do about…" description: "\"If you ask what you are going to do about global warming, the only rational answer is to change the way in which we do transportation, energy productio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/barry-commoner-9980_activity_if-you-ask-what-you-are-going-to-do-abou_2182144.jpg" --- # If you ask what you are going to do about global warming… ![“If you ask what you are going to do about global warming, the only rational answer is to change the way in which we do transportation, energy production, agriculture and a good deal of manufacturing. The problem originates in human activity in the form of the production of goods.” quote by Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/barry-commoner-9980_activity_if-you-ask-what-you-are-going-to-do-abou_2182144.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/barry-commoner-9980_activity_if-you-ask-what-you-are-going-to-do-abou_2182144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/barry-commoner-9980_activity_if-you-ask-what-you-are-going-to-do-abou_2182144.jpg) > “If you ask what you are going to do about global warming, the only rational answer is to change the way in which we do transportation, energy production, agriculture and a good deal of manufacturing. The problem originates in human activity in the form of the production of goods.” [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Addressing climate change requires transforming core systems like transport, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing, as they stem from human production activities. **In simple terms:** To fight global warming, overhaul how we transport, produce energy, farm, and manufacture. Key Takeaway Shift systemic practices toward sustainability. Themes environment systemic change climate action Mood urgent determined Type activist policy When to use this quote - government policy - corporate strategy - urban planning - consumer behavior Key Concepts sustainability industrial ecology policy reform Questions to Reflect On - What systemic changes can individuals influence? - How can policy accelerate sustainable transitions? A Different Perspective Implementation faces political resistance and economic inertia. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Agriculture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agriculture/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Global warming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/global-warming/) [Goods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goods/) [Human activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-activity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Manufacturing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manufacturing/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-answer-2562334/) [Transportation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transportation/) [Warming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warming/) [Warming Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warming-rational-4718827/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Always refrsehing to hear a rational answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jetson/always-refrsehing-to-hear-a-rational-answer/) [Jetson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jetson/) > [“Keep in mind my friend, if an answer is not rational, then it is not an answer, but a delusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/keep-in-mind-my-friend-if-an-answer-is-not-rational-then-it-is-not-an/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There is no effective rational answer to the challenge: "But give me a reason why I should love someone who does not deserve it."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/there-is-no-effective-rational-answer-to-the-challenge-but-give-me-a/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Global warming is controversial, of course, but the controversy is mainly over whether human activity is driving it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/global-warming-is-controversial-of-course-but-the-controversy-is/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [As the country continues to dissect the recent natural disaster, we might want to start considering what about the disaster wasn't actually 'natural' at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/as-the-country-continues-to-dissect-the-recent-natural-disaster-we/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Many people have the impression that there is significant scientific disagreement about global climate change. It's time to lay that misapprehension to rest. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-oreskes/many-people-have-the-impression-that-there-is-significant-scientific/) [Naomi Oreskes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-oreskes/) > [Geologists and paleo-climatologists know that in the past the Earth's temperature has been substantially warmer than it is today, and that this warming has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-benson/geologists-and-paleo-climatologists-know-that-in-the-past-the-earth-s/) [Greg Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-benson/) > [Romney has become reluctant to say that human activity causes global warming, and even in his greener days he was always somewhat cagey about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/romney-has-become-reluctant-to-say-that-human-activity-causes-global/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [Climate change is a global problem. The planet is warming because of the growing level of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. If this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/climate-change-is-a-global-problem-the-planet-is-warming-because-of/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [Only now did I recognize the reciprocal relationship which exists between manufacturing power and the national system of transportation, and that the one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-list/only-now-did-i-recognize-the-reciprocal-relationship-which-exists/) [Friedrich List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-list/) > [My grandfather and dad worked at General American Transportation Corp. in Chicago, a company that made tank cars and freight cars. We had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moseley/my-grandfather-and-dad-worked-at-general-american-transportation-corp/) [Bill Moseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moseley/) > [With living wage jobs, basically 20 million of them to help jump-start a sustainable and healthy economy, with an insured, just transition, for example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/with-living-wage-jobs-basically-20-million-of-them-to-help-jump-start/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [You look at energy use in the U.S. and one-third of it is automotive or our transportation system, one-third of it is manufacturing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ross-barney/you-look-at-energy-use-in-the-u-s-and-one-third-of-it-is-automotive/) [Carol Ross Barney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ross-barney/) > [The environmental crisis arises from a fundamental fault: our systems of production - in industry, agriculture, energy and transportation - essential as they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-environmental-crisis-arises-from-a-fundamental-fault-our-systems/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [ \[On Cantor's work:\] The finest product of mathematical genius and one of the supreme achievements of purely intellectual human activity. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/on-cantor-s-work-the-finest-product-of-mathematical-genius-and-one-of/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) ## More by Barry Commoner > [The gap between brute power and human need continues to grow, as the power fattens on the same faulty technology that intensifies the need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-gap-between-brute-power-and-human-need-continues-to-grow-as-the/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [The methods that EPA introduced after 1970 to reduce air-pollutant emissions worked for a while, but over time have become progressively less effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-methods-that-epa-introduced-after-1970-to-reduce-air-pollutant/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Sooner or later, wittingly or unwittingly, we must pay for every intrusion on the natural environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/sooner-or-later-wittingly-or-unwittingly-we-must-pay-for-every/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Environmental concern is now firmly embedded in public life: in education, medicine and law; in journalism, literature and art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/environmental-concern-is-now-firmly-embedded-in-public-life-in/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Environmental pollution is an incurable disease. It can only be prevented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/environmental-pollution-is-an-incurable-disease-it-can-only-be/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [In nature, no organic substance is synthesized unless there is provision for its degradation; recycling is enforced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/in-nature-no-organic-substance-is-synthesized-unless-there-is/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [We are in an environmental crisis which threatens the survival of this nation, and of the world as a suitable place of human habitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/we-are-in-an-environmental-crisis-which-threatens-the-survival-of/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [I don't believe in environmentalism as the solution to anything. What I believe is that environmentalism illuminates the things that need to be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/i-don-t-believe-in-environmentalism-as-the-solution-to-anything-what/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [The environmental crisis is somber evidence of an insidious fraud hidden in the vaunted productivity and wealth of modern, technology-based society. This wealth has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-environmental-crisis-is-somber-evidence-of-an-insidious-fraud/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [The most meaningful engine of change, powerful enough to confront corporate power, may be not so much environmental quality, as the economic development and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-most-meaningful-engine-of-change-powerful-enough-to-confront/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [The environmental crisis is a sign that the ecosphere is now so heavily strained that its continued stability is threatened. It is a warning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-environmental-crisis-is-a-sign-that-the-ecosphere-is-now-so/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [It reflects a prevailing myth that production technology is no more amenable to human judgment or social interests than the laws of thermodynamics, atomic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/it-reflects-a-prevailing-myth-that-production-technology-is-no-more/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Seen that way, the wholesale transformation of production technologies that is mandated by pollution prevention creates a new surge of economic development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/seen-that-way-the-wholesale-transformation-of-production-technologies/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Recycling is a good thing to do. It makes people feel good to do it. The thing I want to emphasize is the vast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/recycling-is-a-good-thing-to-do-it-makes-people-feel-good-to-do-it/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Finally, since human beings are uniquely capable of producing materials not found in nature, environmental degradation may be due to the resultant intrusion into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/finally-since-human-beings-are-uniquely-capable-of-producing/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) [Explore all 69 Barry Commoner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you ask what you are going to do about global warming, the only rational answer is to change the way in which we do transportation, energy production, agriculture and a good deal of manufacturing. The problem originates in human activity in the form of the production of goods.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barry Commoner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/if-you-ask-what-you-are-going-to-do-about-global-warming-the-only/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/if-you-ask-what-you-are-going-to-do-about-global-warming-the-only/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/barry-commoner-9980_activity_if-you-ask-what-you-are-going-to-do-abou_2182144.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/barry-commoner-9980_activity_if-you-ask-what-you-are-going-to-do-abou_2182144.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/barry-commoner-9980_activity_if-you-ask-what-you-are-going-to-do-abou_2182144.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you ask what you are going to do about global warming, the only rational answer is to change the way in…” — Barry Commoner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barry Commoner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you ask what you are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/if-you-ask-what-you-are-going-to-do-about-global-warming-the-only/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/if-you-ask-what-you-are-going-to-do-about-global-warming-the-only/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```