--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before progressives were apocalyptic…" description: "\"Before progressives were apocalyptic about climate change they were apocalyptic about nuclear energy. Then, after the Cold War ended, and the threat of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30e/michael-shellenberger-7859_change_before-progressives-were-apocalyptic-abo_1481940.jpg" --- # Before progressives were apocalyptic about climate change… ![“Before progressives were apocalyptic about climate change they were apocalyptic about nuclear energy. Then, after the Cold War ended, and the threat of nuclear war declined radically, they found a new vehicle for their secular apocalypse in the form of climate change.” quote by Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30e/michael-shellenberger-7859_change_before-progressives-were-apocalyptic-abo_1481940.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30e/michael-shellenberger-7859_change_before-progressives-were-apocalyptic-abo_1481940.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30e/michael-shellenberger-7859_change_before-progressives-were-apocalyptic-abo_1481940.jpg) > “Before progressives were apocalyptic about climate change they were apocalyptic about nuclear energy. Then, after the Cold War ended, and the threat of nuclear war declined radically, they found a new vehicle for their secular apocalypse in the form of climate change.” [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Progressive climate activism shifted focus from nuclear fears to climate urgency after the Cold War, framing climate change as a new existential threat. **In simple terms:** Progressives moved from nuclear to climate concerns. Key Takeaway Recognize how political narratives evolve with perceived threats. Themes politics environment history Mood critical analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - environmental activism - energy policy debates - public opinion formation Key Concepts secularism apocalypse policy shift Questions to Reflect On - How do shifting threats shape activist priorities? - What alternative narratives exist for climate action? A Different Perspective The comparison may oversimplify diverse motivations within progressive movements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apocalyptic Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apocalyptic-climate-5402670/) [Apocalyptic Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apocalyptic-nuclear-5402671/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Apocalyptic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-apocalyptic-5402672/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-war/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Nuclear energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-energy/) [Nuclear war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-war/) [Progressives Apocalyptic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressives-apocalyptic-5402669/) [Secular Apocalypse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular-apocalypse-5402673/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [There has always been enough fossil fuels to power human civilization for hundreds and perhaps thousands of years, and nuclear energy is effectively infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/there-has-always-been-enough-fossil-fuels-to-power-human-civilization/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [The only countries that have successfully moved from fossil fuels to low-carbon power have done so with the help of nuclear energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/the-only-countries-that-have-successfully-moved-from-fossil-fuels-to/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Nuclear is the only energy source that has proven capable of fully replacing fossil fuels at low-cost in wealthy nations. While hydro-electric dams can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/nuclear-is-the-only-energy-source-that-has-proven-capable-of-fully/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Maybe the words are the same, but the time is not the same. Iranians weren't working on achieving nuclear energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/maybe-the-words-are-the-same-but-the-time-is-not-the-same-iranians/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [Don't get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion to fission. And it just so happens that there's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/don-t-get-me-wrong-i-love-nuclear-energy-it-s-just-that-i-prefer/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [India has the most technically ambitious and innovative nuclear energy program in the world,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-hecker/india-has-the-most-technically-ambitious-and-innovative-nuclear/) [Siegfried Hecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-hecker/) > [For the first time ever, we have confronted in reality the sinister power of uncontrolled nuclear energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/for-the-first-time-ever-we-have-confronted-in-reality-the-sinister/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [Nuclear energy stands at the forefront of the renewable energy renaissance, and U.S. policy must allow this industry to flourish independent of burdensome and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-donalds/nuclear-energy-stands-at-the-forefront-of-the-renewable-energy/) [Byron Donalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-donalds/) > [There is no question we need an energy policy overhaul in America. A key part of that overhaul must include moving forward aggressively with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/there-is-no-question-we-need-an-energy-policy-overhaul-in-america-a/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [I know that nuclear is better than fossil fuels when it comes to carbon dioxide, but nuclear energy is by no means clean. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-know-that-nuclear-is-better-than-fossil-fuels-when-it-comes-to/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [ He \[Mikhail Gorbachev\] has, as many great leaders have, impressive eyes…There's a kind of laser-beam stare, a forced quality, you get from Gorbachev that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/he-mikhail-gorbachev-has-as-many-great-leaders-have-impressive-eyes/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [For years, I have been a strong supporter of clean, safe nuclear energy as an important part of our energy mix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-todd-whitman/for-years-i-have-been-a-strong-supporter-of-clean-safe-nuclear-energy/) [Christine Todd Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-todd-whitman/) > [“While nuclear fusion is great achievement, it is important that we look into the negative aspects of it. The development of nuclear energy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/while-nuclear-fusion-is-great-achievement-it-is-important-that-we/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [If we are to take the clean energy future of the United States seriously, we must consider a whole-of-government approach to implementing nuclear energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-donalds/if-we-are-to-take-the-clean-energy-future-of-the-united-states/) [Byron Donalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-donalds/) > [“Three Moonie 65-megaton hydrogen bombs exploded nearly simultaneously at very high altitude. With no air around the bombs to absorb the initial blast of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hg47/three-moonie-65-megaton-hydrogen-bombs-exploded-nearly-simultaneously/) [@hg47](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hg47/) ## More by Michael Shellenberger > [I remained quiet about the climate disinformation campaign because I was afraid of losing friends and funding. The few times I summoned the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/i-remained-quiet-about-the-climate-disinformation-campaign-because-i/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Nations are reorienting toward the national interest and away from Malthusianism and neoliberalism, which is good for nuclear and bad for renewables. The evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/nations-are-reorienting-toward-the-national-interest-and-away-from/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Environmentalism, apocalyptic environmentalism in particular, has become the dominant religion of supposedly secular people in the West.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/environmentalism-apocalyptic-environmentalism-in-particular-has/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Reporters have an obligation to report accurately and fairly on all issues they cover, especially ones as important as energy and the environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/reporters-have-an-obligation-to-report-accurately-and-fairly-on-all/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Like many environmental documentaries, 'Planet of Humans' endorses debunked Malthusian ideas that the world is running out of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/like-many-environmental-documentaries-planet-of-humans-endorses/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [There is good evidence that the catastrophist framing of climate change is self-defeating because it alienates and polarizes many people. And exaggerating climate change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/there-is-good-evidence-that-the-catastrophist-framing-of-climate/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [It was only with the rise of capitalism and the need for workers to be freer, more mobile, and prosperous, that societies were able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/it-was-only-with-the-rise-of-capitalism-and-the-need-for-workers-to/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [If solar and wind farms are needed to protect the natural environment, why do they so often destroy it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/if-solar-and-wind-farms-are-needed-to-protect-the-natural-environment/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Chernobyl' is supposedly about the lies, arrogance, and suppression of criticism under Communism, but the mini-series portrays life in the Soviet Union in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/chernobyl-is-supposedly-about-the-lies-arrogance-and-suppression-of/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Homelessness has become a human rights crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/homelessness-has-become-a-human-rights-crisis/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [What we need to talk about is what we want America to look like: what a sustainable, economically prosperous America looks like in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/what-we-need-to-talk-about-is-what-we-want-america-to-look-like-what/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Hawks and doves have long found common ground opposing the spread of nuclear weapons to non-nuclear states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/hawks-and-doves-have-long-found-common-ground-opposing-the-spread-of/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Climate change has completely overshadowed the conservation concerns that used to be so important to the Democratic Party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/climate-change-has-completely-overshadowed-the-conservation-concerns/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Privately, many climate and energy experts admit that the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to decarbonize energy supplies is with nuclear power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/privately-many-climate-and-energy-experts-admit-that-the-fastest/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [The underlying problem with solar and wind is that they are too unreliable and energy-dilute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/the-underlying-problem-with-solar-and-wind-is-that-they-are-too/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) [Explore all 86 Michael Shellenberger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. 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