--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to save the natural…" description: "\"If you want to save the natural environment, you just use nuclear. You grow more food on less land, and people live in cities. It's not rocket science...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/michael-shellenberger-7859_environment_if-you-want-to-save-the-natural-environm_1410786.jpg" --- # If you want to save the natural environment, you just use… ![“If you want to save the natural environment, you just use nuclear. You grow more food on less land, and people live in cities. It's not rocket science.” quote by Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/michael-shellenberger-7859_environment_if-you-want-to-save-the-natural-environm_1410786.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/michael-shellenberger-7859_environment_if-you-want-to-save-the-natural-environm_1410786.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/michael-shellenberger-7859_environment_if-you-want-to-save-the-natural-environm_1410786.jpg) > “If you want to save the natural environment, you just use nuclear. You grow more food on less land, and people live in cities. It's not rocket science.” [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. Advocates nuclear energy as a practical solution to environmental challenges and urbanization. **In simple terms:** Nuclear power can protect nature while feeding more people. Key Takeaway Consider nuclear options for climate policy. Themes environment technology urbanization Mood concerned optimistic Type policy advocacy When to use this quote - agricultural planning - city development - energy infrastructure - climate advocacy Key Concepts sustainability energy policy population growth Questions to Reflect On - How can nuclear be made socially acceptable? - What alternatives address both food and emissions? A Different Perspective Nuclear adoption faces political resistance and waste concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Natural environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-environment/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rocket science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocket-science/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [At the end of the day, no amount of investing, no amount of clean electrons, no amount of energy efficiency will save the natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-the-end-of-the-day-no-amount-of-investing-no-amount-of-clean/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let's cultivate an environment, not just in beauty pageants but in society in general, where we argue like we're right but listen like we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catriona-gray/let-s-cultivate-an-environment-not-just-in-beauty-pageants-but-in/) [Catriona Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catriona-gray/) > [This notion that we cannot be about jobs and stewardship of the environment is just simply not right. We've always done that well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/this-notion-that-we-cannot-be-about-jobs-and-stewardship-of-the/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [The environment is not just around you, it's passing through you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/the-environment-is-not-just-around-you-it-s-passing-through-you/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Protecting the environment is just as important a priority as the economic imperatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/protecting-the-environment-is-just-as-important-a-priority-as-the/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) > [Only nuclear can lift all humans out of poverty while saving the natural environment. Nothing else - not coal, not solar, not geo-engineering -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/only-nuclear-can-lift-all-humans-out-of-poverty-while-saving-the/) [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/) > [What is the only provocation that could bring about the use of nuclear weapons? Nuclear weapons. What is the priority target for nuclear weapons?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/what-is-the-only-provocation-that-could-bring-about-the-use-of/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [It would be our policy to use nuclear weapons wherever we felt it necessary to protect our forces and achieve our objectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mcnamara/it-would-be-our-policy-to-use-nuclear-weapons-wherever-we-felt-it/) [Robert McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mcnamara/) > [I'd be the last one to use the nuclear weapons, because that's sort of like the end of the ballgame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-d-be-the-last-one-to-use-the-nuclear-weapons-because-that-s-sort-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Our republic is a responsible nuclear state that, as we made clear before, will not use nuclear weapons first unless aggressive hostile forces use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-jong-un/our-republic-is-a-responsible-nuclear-state-that-as-we-made-clear/) [Kim Jong-un](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-jong-un/) > [If in the words which the Secretary of State has just used, the use of a nuclear weapon is to be avoided 'at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-powell/if-in-the-words-which-the-secretary-of-state-has-just-used-the-use-of/) [Enoch Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch-powell/) > [Iran doesn't need one centrifuge. Canada has nuclear energy. Spain has nuclear energy. Switzerland has nuclear energy, and they don't enrich uranium. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naftali-bennett/iran-doesn-t-need-one-centrifuge-canada-has-nuclear-energy-spain-has/) [Naftali Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naftali-bennett/) > [“There’s no record in the history of the Galaxy of any society being so foolish as to use nuclear explosions as a weapon of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-s-no-record-in-the-history-of-the-galaxy-of-any-society-being/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [The Iranians know that if they develop nuclear weapons, they will be in tremendous jeopardy from military capabilities of their neighbors and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/the-iranians-know-that-if-they-develop-nuclear-weapons-they-will-be/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) ## 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 Environment quotes > [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [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/) > [They paved paradise and put up a parkin lot With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin' hot spot Don't it always seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/they-paved-paradise-and-put-up-a-parkin-lot-with-a-pink-hotel-a/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Daily life is both the subject and environment of the work I am making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-henrot/daily-life-is-both-the-subject-and-environment-of-the-work-i-am-making/) [Camille Henrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-henrot/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [Of course, learning is strengthened and solidified when it occurs in a safe, secure and normal environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bertrand-aristide/of-course-learning-is-strengthened-and-solidified-when-it-occurs-in-a/) [Jean-Bertrand Aristide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bertrand-aristide/) [Browse all 8,669 Environment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you want to save the natural environment, you just use nuclear. 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