--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Coal is the single greatest threat to…" description: "\"Coal is the single greatest threat to civilization and all life on our planet.\" — James Hansen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/james-hansen-7143_civilization_coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-ci_1378327.jpg" --- # Coal is the single greatest threat to civilization and all… ![“Coal is the single greatest threat to civilization and all life on our planet.” quote by James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/james-hansen-7143_civilization_coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-ci_1378327.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/james-hansen-7143_civilization_coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-ci_1378327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/james-hansen-7143_civilization_coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-ci_1378327.jpg) > “Coal is the single greatest threat to civilization and all life on our planet.” [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fossil fuel combustion, especially coal, poses the greatest existential risk to humanity and all ecosystems on Earth. **In simple terms:** Coal is the biggest danger to life on Earth. Key Takeaway Prioritize ph energy and phase out coal. Themes environment climate crisis energy policy existential risk Mood urgent alarming Type activist informative When to use this quote - energy policy - community activism - business strategy - educational curricula Key Concepts carbon emissions global warming sustainability Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives can replace coal in your region? - How can societies balance economic growth with climate safety? A Different Perspective Economic dependence on coal creates resistance to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Our planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-planet/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) ## Related quotes > [Terrorism is a horrible thing that is the great threat to civilization on our planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/terrorism-is-a-horrible-thing-that-is-the-great-threat-to/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [We face the gravest threat that civilization has ever confronted. It's global in nature and requires a global solution. Increased CO2 emissions anywhere, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/we-face-the-gravest-threat-that-civilization-has-ever-confronted-it-s/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Only in the last few years did the science crystallize, revealing the urgency - our planet really is in peril. If we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/only-in-the-last-few-years-did-the-science-crystallize-revealing-the/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [I believe global warming and climate change are real threats to our planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-believe-global-warming-and-climate-change-are-real-threats-to-our/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [You can't turn on your television without seeing these advertisements about clean coal, clean tar sands and the claim that there's more jobs associated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/you-can-t-turn-on-your-television-without-seeing-these-advertisements/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The most difficult task, phase-out over the next 20-25 years of coal use that does not capture COâ‚‚, is Herculean, yet feasible when compared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-most-difficult-task-phase-out-over-the-next-20-25-years-of-coal/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [What makes tar sands particularly odious is that the energy you get out in the end, per unit carbon dioxide, is poor. It's equivalent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/what-makes-tar-sands-particularly-odious-is-that-the-energy-you-get/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Subsidies for the oil, gas and coal industries are projected to cost taxpayers more than $135 billion in the coming decade. At a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/subsidies-for-the-oil-gas-and-coal-industries-are-projected-to-cost/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [ Two \[Massachusetts coal burning power plants\] remain: Brayton Point in the South Coast region and Mt. Tom, just down the road. Within the next… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deval-patrick/two-massachusetts-coal-burning-power-plants-remain-brayton-point-in/) [Deval Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deval-patrick/) > [Coal makes us sick. Oil makes us sick. It's global warming. It's ruining our country. It's ruining our world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/coal-makes-us-sick-oil-makes-us-sick-it-s-global-warming-it-s-ruining/) [Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/) > [“God poses no threat to me other than keeping me from being my own greatest threat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/god-poses-no-threat-to-me-other-than-keeping-me-from-being-my-own/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Isn’t it awfully convenient,” Harry added, “that when men make the rules, the one thing that’s looked down on the most is the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-jenkins-reid/isn-t-it-awfully-convenient-harry-added-that-when-men-make-the-rules/) [Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-jenkins-reid/) > [The greatest threat to the security of the people of North Korea comes from the government of North Korea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/the-greatest-threat-to-the-security-of-the-people-of-north-korea/) [Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/) > [The greatest threat to the future of the world is religion. The kingdom of heaven is the only solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/the-greatest-threat-to-the-future-of-the-world-is-religion-the/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [The greatest threat to any artist is surrounding themselves with people who love everything they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-clarke/the-greatest-threat-to-any-artist-is-surrounding-themselves-with/) [John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-clarke/) ## More by James Hansen > [Talking nice about sun and wind and green jobs is just greenwash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/talking-nice-about-sun-and-wind-and-green-jobs-is-just-greenwash/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [What is frustrating people, me included, is that democratic action affects elections but what we get then from political leaders is greenwash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/what-is-frustrating-people-me-included-is-that-democratic-action/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The five-year mean global temperature has been flat for the last decade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-five-year-mean-global-temperature-has-been-flat-for-the-last/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [What makes tar sands particularly odious is that the energy you get out in the end, per unit carbon dioxide, is poor. It's equivalent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/what-makes-tar-sands-particularly-odious-is-that-the-energy-you-get/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [We are on the precipice of climate system tipping points beyond which there is no redemption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/we-are-on-the-precipice-of-climate-system-tipping-points-beyond-which/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Jail threats did not dissuade Martin Luther King - and intergenerational justice is a moral issue of comparable magnitude to civil rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/jail-threats-did-not-dissuade-martin-luther-king-and/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The United States did not sign Kyoto, yet its emissions are not that different from the countries that did sign it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-united-states-did-not-sign-kyoto-yet-its-emissions-are-not-that/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The five-year mean global temperature has been flat for the last decade, which we interpret as a combination of natural variability and a slow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-five-year-mean-global-temperature-has-been-flat-for-the-last-2/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Rising carbon price is essential to 'decarbonize' the economy - to remove the nation towards the era beyond fossil fuels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/rising-carbon-price-is-essential-to-decarbonize-the-economy-to-remove/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Policy decisions on climate change are being deliberated every day by those without full knowledge of the science, and often with intentional misinformation spawned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/policy-decisions-on-climate-change-are-being-deliberated-every-day-by/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [ Imagine a giant asteroid on a direct collision course with Earth. That is the equivalent of what we face now \[with climate change\], yet… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/imagine-a-giant-asteroid-on-a-direct-collision-course-with-earth-that/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The most difficult task, phase-out over the next 20-25 years of coal use that does not capture COâ‚‚, is Herculean, yet feasible when compared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-most-difficult-task-phase-out-over-the-next-20-25-years-of-coal/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [As species are exterminated by shifting climate zones, ecosystems can collapse, destroying more species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/as-species-are-exterminated-by-shifting-climate-zones-ecosystems-can/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [I think we have a very brief window of opportunity to deal with climate change... no longer than a decade, at the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/i-think-we-have-a-very-brief-window-of-opportunity-to-deal-with/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The climate system is being pushed hard enough that change will become obvious to the man in the street in the next decade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-climate-system-is-being-pushed-hard-enough-that-change-will/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) [Explore all 94 James Hansen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) ## More Civilization quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ellen-foster/sentiment-is-the-mightiest-force-in-civilization-not-sentimentality/) [Judith Ellen Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ellen-foster/) > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Once we allow ourselves to be disobedient to the test of an accountant's profit, we have begun to change our civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/once-we-allow-ourselves-to-be-disobedient-to-the-test-of-an/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/our-laws-and-our-institutions-must-necessarily-be-based-upon-and/) [David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/) [Browse all 4,084 Civilization quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Coal is the single greatest threat to civilization and all life on our planet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Hansen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-civilization-and-all-life-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civilization" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-civilization-and-all-life-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/james-hansen-7143_civilization_coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-ci_1378327.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/james-hansen-7143_civilization_coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-ci_1378327.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/james-hansen-7143_civilization_coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-ci_1378327.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Coal is the single greatest threat to civilization and all life on our planet.” — James Hansen", "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": "James Hansen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Coal is the single greatest threat...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-civilization-and-all-life-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-civilization-and-all-life-on/#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 } } ] } ```