Acid rain Quote by Naomi Oreskes
““If you believed in capitalism, you had to attack science, because science had revealed the hazards that capitalism had brought in its wake. The biggest hazard of them all—one that could truly affect the entire planet—was just at that moment coming to public attention: global warming. Global warming would become the mother of all environmental issues, because it struck at the very root of economic activity: the use of energy. So perhaps not surprisingly, the same people who had questioned acid rain, doubted the ozone hole, and defended tobacco now attacked the scientific evidence of global warming.””
About This Quote
The quote argues that defenders of capitalism historically undermine scientific findings that threaten economic interests, using climate change as a prime example of how environmental threats are dismissed to protect profit-driven energy use.
In simple terms: Science is suppressed when it challenges profit motives.
Key Takeaway
Economic self‑interest can drive denial of scientific risks.
Themes
politics
environment
economics
science denial
climate change
Mood
critical
cautious
urgent
Type
political
environmental
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy debates on climate regulation
- public discourse on environmental health
- corporate lobbying against emissions standards
Key Concepts
capitalism
energy consumption
global warming
industrial interests
Practical Applications
- informing climate communication strategies
- guiding policy advocacy for sustainable energy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do economic incentives shape public acceptance of science?
- What mechanisms can protect scientific integrity from political pressure?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that scientific skepticism is a legitimate part of debate, not merely a capitalist ploy.
![“[…] most of the environmental hype [regarding global warming] is really to help bring about Karl Marx's dream (nightmare) of a Communist world." [by reduction, and ultimately elimination of private property rights” quote by Kent Hovind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7d5/kent-hovind-20354_communist_most-of-the-environmental-hype-regarding_3094404.jpg)
