--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are in an environmental crisis which…" description: "\"We are in an environmental crisis which threatens the survival of this nation, and of the world as a suitable place of human habitation.\" — Barry Commoner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/barry-commoner-9980_climate_we-are-in-an-environmental-crisis-which_482374.png" --- # We are in an environmental crisis which threatens the… ![“We are in an environmental crisis which threatens the survival of this nation, and of the world as a suitable place of human habitation.” quote by Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/barry-commoner-9980_climate_we-are-in-an-environmental-crisis-which_482374.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/barry-commoner-9980_climate_we-are-in-an-environmental-crisis-which_482374.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/barry-commoner-9980_climate_we-are-in-an-environmental-crisis-which_482374.png) > “We are in an environmental crisis which threatens the survival of this nation, and of the world as a suitable place of human habitation.” [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. Human activity threatens planetary habitability, endangering national and global survival. **In simple terms:** Human actions harm the environment. Key Takeaway Adopt sustainable practices urgently. Themes environment sustainability crisis survival Mood urgent concerned motivational Type activist policy-oriented When to use this quote - industry - urban planning - energy policy - personal lifestyle Key Concepts ecology climate change resource depletion Questions to Reflect On - What policies could most effectively address this crisis? - How can individuals influence larger systems? A Different Perspective Solutions require systemic change, not just individual effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Crisis Threatens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis-threatens-2645760/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Earth day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth-day/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Environmental crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental-crisis/) [Human Habitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-habitation-4145349/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Suitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suitable/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Threatens Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatens-survival-538872/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [It is not man the ecological crisis threatens to destroy but the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/it-is-not-man-the-ecological-crisis-threatens-to-destroy-but-the/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [Global warming threatens the survival of our species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucien-bouchard/global-warming-threatens-the-survival-of-our-species/) [Lucien Bouchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bouchard/) > [This accumulated debt at all levels of our society poses an immediate existential threat to America. 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Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Man ( the human ego) is not so much destroying the planet as it is destroying itself. The planet will Be Here regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-lewis/man-the-human-ego-is-not-so-much-destroying-the-planet-as-it-is/) [Leland Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-lewis/) > [Perhaps one of the most meaningful ways to sense the impact of the environmental crisis is to confront the question which is always asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/perhaps-one-of-the-most-meaningful-ways-to-sense-the-impact-of-the/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [The environmental crisis is a global problem, and only global action will resolve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-environmental-crisis-is-a-global-problem-and-only-global-action/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Because the global ecosystem is a connected whole, in which nothing can be gained or lost and which is not subject to over-all improvement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/because-the-global-ecosystem-is-a-connected-whole-in-which-nothing/) [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/) > [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 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/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [Because the global ecosystem is a connected whole, in which nothing can be gained or lost and which is not subject to over-all improvement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/because-the-global-ecosystem-is-a-connected-whole-in-which-nothing/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) [Explore all 69 Barry Commoner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) ## More Climate quotes > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. 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