--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I particularly dislike the high-profile…" description: "\"“I particularly dislike the high-profile switch-off campaigns where whole cities are plunged into darkness for an hour as a supposedly symbolic gesture..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/mark-lynas-25831_climate_i-particularly-dislike-the-high-profile_2564000.jpg" --- # I particularly dislike the high-profile switch-off… ![“I particularly dislike the high-profile switch-off campaigns where whole cities are plunged into darkness for an hour as a supposedly symbolic gesture about energy use. So is the implication that we all need to live in constant gloom to reduce CO2 emissions?” quote by Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/mark-lynas-25831_climate_i-particularly-dislike-the-high-profile_2564000.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/mark-lynas-25831_climate_i-particularly-dislike-the-high-profile_2564000.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/mark-lynas-25831_climate_i-particularly-dislike-the-high-profile_2564000.jpg) > ““I particularly dislike the high-profile switch-off campaigns where whole cities are plunged into darkness for an hour as a supposedly symbolic gesture about energy use. So is the implication that we all need to live in constant gloom to reduce CO2 emissions?”” [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. High‑profile blackout events are symbolic gestures that suggest living in darkness is necessary to cut emissions, a premise that is impractical and misleading. **In simple terms:** Blackouts as unrealistic climate symbols. Key Takeaway Seek realistic energy solutions. Themes climate activism symbolism Mood skeptical reflective Type critical thought‑provoking When to use this quote - policy advocacy - public education - community energy projects Key Concepts energy policy public perception behavioral change Questions to Reflect On - Are symbolic protests effective? - What alternatives reduce emissions without disruption? A Different Perspective Symbolic actions may distract from effective measures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Constant Gloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant-gloom-1631232/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Gloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gloom/) [Gloom Reduce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gloom-reduce-1631233/) [Reduce Co2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reduce-co2-1492295/) ## Related quotes > [It is in fact necessary to reduce CO2 emissions. There is no reason why we shouldn't spend our vacations on (the North Sea island…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-von-storch/it-is-in-fact-necessary-to-reduce-co2-emissions-there-is-no-reason/) [Hans von Storch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-von-storch/) > [Even if you accept the theory of man-made climate change, wind turbines are a rotten way to reduce CO2 emissions, or to improve energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-helmer/even-if-you-accept-the-theory-of-man-made-climate-change-wind/) [Roger Helmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-helmer/) > [Our ACE proposal will reduce CO2 approximately the same levels that the Clean Power Plan would have, if it had been implemented. And we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-r-wheeler/our-ace-proposal-will-reduce-co2-approximately-the-same-levels-that/) [Andrew R. Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-r-wheeler/) > [European carmakers pledged to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 percent from 1995 to 2008. We kept our word and reduced the value even more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-reithofer/european-carmakers-pledged-to-reduce-co2-emissions-by-25-percent-from/) [Norbert Reithofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-reithofer/) > [When there's doom and gloom, don't forget there's darkness before dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-jhunjhunwala/when-there-s-doom-and-gloom-don-t-forget-there-s-darkness-before-dawn/) [Rakesh Jhunjhunwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-jhunjhunwala/) > [In a last violent protest against the hopelessness of imminent death, I sensed my spirit piercing through the enveloping gloom. I felt it transcend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-a-last-violent-protest-against-the-hopelessness-of-imminent-death/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [You'd be forgiven for thinking that climate change means we'll have to sacrifice our creature comforts. But it doesn't have to be that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/you-d-be-forgiven-for-thinking-that-climate-change-means-we-ll-have/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [This is like playing Russian roulette with a Luger rather than a revolver. One bullet, one chamber - and we're pulling the trigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/this-is-like-playing-russian-roulette-with-a-luger-rather-than-a/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [The little bee returns with evening's gloom, To join her comrades in the braided hive, Where, housed beside their might honey-comb, They dream their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tennyson-turner/the-little-bee-returns-with-evening-s-gloom-to-join-her-comrades-in/) [Charles Tennyson Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tennyson-turner/) > [The everlasting universe of things Flows through the mind, and rolls its rapid waves, Now dark--now glittering--now reflecting gloom-- Now lending splendour, where from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-everlasting-universe-of-things-flows-through-the-mind-and-rolls/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“Ye men of gloom and austerity, who paint the face of Infinite Benevolence with an eternal frown; read in the Everlasting Book, wide open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doma-publishing-house/ye-men-of-gloom-and-austerity-who-paint-the-face-of-infinite/) [Doma Publishing House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doma-publishing-house/) > [“Don’t you dare try to out-gloom me. I’m the only one here entitled to indulge in deep dark existential brooding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/don-t-you-dare-try-to-out-gloom-me-i-m-the-only-one-here-entitled-to/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [No matter the style, the farther one goes the more obstacles increase, and the more distant appears the object it is desired to attain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-georges-noverre/no-matter-the-style-the-farther-one-goes-the-more-obstacles-increase/) [Jean-Georges Noverre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-georges-noverre/) > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Mark Lynas > [You'd be forgiven for thinking that climate change means we'll have to sacrifice our creature comforts. But it doesn't have to be that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/you-d-be-forgiven-for-thinking-that-climate-change-means-we-ll-have/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [At 1.24 am on 26 April 1986 Chernobyl’s Unit 4 reactor exploded after staff disabled safety systems and performed an ill-advised experiment to check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/at-1-24-am-on-26-april-1986-chernobyl-s-unit-4-reactor-exploded-after/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [This is like playing Russian roulette with a Luger rather than a revolver. One bullet, one chamber - and we're pulling the trigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/this-is-like-playing-russian-roulette-with-a-luger-rather-than-a/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [If we are to save humanity and the planet from the worst mass extinction of all time, worse even than that at the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/if-we-are-to-save-humanity-and-the-planet-from-the-worst-mass/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [Only by advocating 'politically unrealistic' CO2 concentrations can runaway global warming be avoided. But what is politically realistic for humans is whollymunrelated to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/only-by-advocating-politically-unrealistic-co2-concentrations-can/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [Silent Summer - a never-ending heat wave, devoid of birdsong, insect hum, and all the weird and wonderful living noises that subconsciously keep us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/silent-summer-a-never-ending-heat-wave-devoid-of-birdsong-insect-hum/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [Conventional economic theory... counts the depletion of resources as the accumulation of wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/conventional-economic-theory-counts-the-depletion-of-resources-as-the/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [“It would be easy to laugh this off were it not so obviously counterproductive. The idea that tackling climate change means accepting profound levels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/it-would-be-easy-to-laugh-this-off-were-it-not-so-obviously/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [“First, guilt-tripping doesn’t work as a campaigning strategy. If you make people feel bad about what they do, you must give them a realistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/first-guilt-tripping-doesn-t-work-as-a-campaigning-strategy-if-you/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [I am also sorry that I helped to start the anti-GM movement back in the mid 1990s, and that I thereby assisted in demonizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/i-am-also-sorry-that-i-helped-to-start-the-anti-gm-movement-back-in/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [We humans, one species of animal amongst millions, have now become the de facto guardians of the planet's climate stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/we-humans-one-species-of-animal-amongst-millions-have-now-become-the/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [Our evolutionary psychology preconditions us not to respond to threats which can be postponed until later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/our-evolutionary-psychology-preconditions-us-not-to-respond-to/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [The worst case scenario sees the Amazon rainforest burning, huge amounts of methane being released by Siberian peat bogs and so on - by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/the-worst-case-scenario-sees-the-amazon-rainforest-burning-huge/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [Unless we decide to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within just a few years from now, our destinies will already be chosen and our path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/unless-we-decide-to-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-within-just-a-few/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [I discovered science, and in the process I hope I became a better environmentalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/i-discovered-science-and-in-the-process-i-hope-i-became-a-better/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) [Explore all 22 Mark Lynas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) ## 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. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/) [Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/) > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [We live in a state with a wonderful climate and plenty of natural beauty, from the shores of Cumberland Island to the Chattahoochee River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-barnes/we-live-in-a-state-with-a-wonderful-climate-and-plenty-of-natural/) [Roy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-barnes/) > [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) [Browse all 8,549 Climate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I particularly dislike the high-profile switch-off campaigns where whole cities are plunged into darkness for an hour as a supposedly symbolic gesture about energy use. So is the implication that we all need to live in constant gloom to reduce CO2 emissions?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Lynas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/i-particularly-dislike-the-high-profile-switch-off-campaigns-where/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Climate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/i-particularly-dislike-the-high-profile-switch-off-campaigns-where/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/mark-lynas-25831_climate_i-particularly-dislike-the-high-profile_2564000.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/mark-lynas-25831_climate_i-particularly-dislike-the-high-profile_2564000.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/mark-lynas-25831_climate_i-particularly-dislike-the-high-profile_2564000.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I particularly dislike the high-profile switch-off campaigns where whole cities are plunged into darkness…” — Mark Lynas", "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": "Mark Lynas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I particularly dislike the high-profile switch-off...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/i-particularly-dislike-the-high-profile-switch-off-campaigns-where/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/i-particularly-dislike-the-high-profile-switch-off-campaigns-where/#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 } } ] } ```