--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why are the people who are most alarmist…" description: "\"Why are the people who are most alarmist about climate change so opposed to the technologies that are solving it? One possibility is that they truly be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/michael-shellenberger-7859_believe_why-are-the-people-who-are-most-alarmist_1747394.jpg" --- # Why are the people who are most alarmist about climate… ![“Why are the people who are most alarmist about climate change so opposed to the technologies that are solving it? One possibility is that they truly believe nuclear and natural gas are as dangerous as climate change.” quote by Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/michael-shellenberger-7859_believe_why-are-the-people-who-are-most-alarmist_1747394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/michael-shellenberger-7859_believe_why-are-the-people-who-are-most-alarmist_1747394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/michael-shellenberger-7859_believe_why-are-the-people-who-are-most-alarmist_1747394.jpg) > “Why are the people who are most alarmist about climate change so opposed to the technologies that are solving it? One possibility is that they truly believe nuclear and natural gas are as dangerous as 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. Many alarmist critics fear that technologies like nuclear and natural gas pose risks comparable to climate change, leading them to oppose solutions they view as dangerous. **In simple terms:** Critics fear new energy tech as risky as climate change. Key Takeaway Recognize and address perceived risks of clean tech. Themes environment technology risk perception policy climate change Mood concerned skeptical hopeful Type analytical persuasive When to use this quote - policy debates - public hearings - community meetings - media analysis Key Concepts risk assessment public perception energy transition science communication Questions to Reflect On - How can we better communicate the safety of clean energy? - What evidence would change skeptics’ views? A Different Perspective Opposition may stem from misinformation or ideological bias, not just genuine risk concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Natural gas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-gas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The clearest evidence that we are living beyond environmental means is the threat of dangerous climate change. 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It's important not to be alarmist but it is very important to be alarmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/dangerous-climate-change-it-s-important-not-to-be-alarmist-but-it-is/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [ What's now urgently needed \[to stop environmental disaster\] is the international political commitment to take action to avoid dangerous climate change. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/what-s-now-urgently-needed-to-stop-environmental-disaster-is-the/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [“I have a real issue with anyone trying to protect children from their own imaginations. If we cannot acknowledge that a lot of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/i-have-a-real-issue-with-anyone-trying-to-protect-children-from-their/) [J.K. 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The fact that they exist at all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly-2/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I believe that a nuclear Iraq can change its fundamental dynamic, affecting how others behave - toward us and toward allies such as Israel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-berger/i-believe-that-a-nuclear-iraq-can-change-its-fundamental-dynamic/) [Sandy Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-berger/) > [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## 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. 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And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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