--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I honestly don't know, but if America…" description: "\"I honestly don't know, but if America continues to refuse to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, I see a bleak future not only for American society, b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/peter-singer-1001_america_i-honestly-don-t-know-but-if-america-con_2641209.jpg" --- # I honestly don't know, but if America continues to refuse… ![“I honestly don't know, but if America continues to refuse to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, I see a bleak future not only for American society, but for the world as a whole. This is a global problem that is not going away, and the United States is an obstacle to solving it.” quote by Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/peter-singer-1001_america_i-honestly-don-t-know-but-if-america-con_2641209.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/peter-singer-1001_america_i-honestly-don-t-know-but-if-america-con_2641209.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/peter-singer-1001_america_i-honestly-don-t-know-but-if-america-con_2641209.jpg) > “I honestly don't know, but if America continues to refuse to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, I see a bleak future not only for American society, but for the world as a whole. This is a global problem that is not going away, and the United States is an obstacle to solving it.” [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. US inaction on emissions threatens global future, making climate change a pressing issue. **In simple terms:** US blocks climate solutions. Key Takeaway Advocate for emission cuts. Themes environment policy ethics Mood urgent concerned Type analytical activist When to use this quote - activism - policy lobbying - public education Key Concepts climate science political responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals influence national policy? - What alternatives exist if US fails? A Different Perspective Political resistance may stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-society/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Emissions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emissions/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Going away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-away/) [Greenhouse gases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greenhouse-gases/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > ['Scientific' computer simulations predict global warming based on increased greenhouse gas emissions over time. However, without water's contribution taken into account they omit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-myers/scientific-computer-simulations-predict-global-warming-based-on/) Michael Myers > [So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can. It's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-if-somebody-wants-to-build-a-coal-powered-plant-they-can-it-s-just/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Many of our actions degrade our habitat because we undertake them in order to reach goals whose allure blinds us to myriad dire consequences.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-m-stanley/many-of-our-actions-degrade-our-habitat-because-we-undertake-them-in/) Steven M. Stanley > [I am troubled by the lack of common sense regarding carbon dioxide emissions. Our greatest greenhouse gas is water. Atmospheric spectroscopy reveals why water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-myers/i-am-troubled-by-the-lack-of-common-sense-regarding-carbon-dioxide/) Michael Myers > [Al Gore likes to say that mankind puts 70 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every day. What he probably doesn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-spencer/al-gore-likes-to-say-that-mankind-puts-70-million-tons-of-carbon/) [Roy Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-spencer/) > [I think the whole human-induced greenhouse gas thing is a red herring... . I see climate change as due to the ocean circulation pattern.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-gray/i-think-the-whole-human-induced-greenhouse-gas-thing-is-a-red-herring/) William M. Gray > [India was a late comer to industrialization, and as such, we have contributed very little to the accumulation of greenhouse gas emissions that cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/india-was-a-late-comer-to-industrialization-and-as-such-we-have/) [Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/) > [It is a simple fact of life on earth that there is going to be no successful mitigation of the climate change problem without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-garnaut/it-is-a-simple-fact-of-life-on-earth-that-there-is-going-to-be-no/) [Ross Garnaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-garnaut/) > [It is common sense that when women are able to plan their pregnancies, populations grow more slowly and as a result so do greenhouse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kavita-ramdas/it-is-common-sense-that-when-women-are-able-to-plan-their-pregnancies/) [Kavita Ramdas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kavita-ramdas/) > [We can debate this or that aspect of climate change, but the reality is that most people now accept our climate is indeed subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/we-can-debate-this-or-that-aspect-of-climate-change-but-the-reality/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [You have to be able to generate usable energy without greenhouse gas emissions and you have to be able to do it cheaply if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramez-naam/you-have-to-be-able-to-generate-usable-energy-without-greenhouse-gas/) [Ramez Naam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramez-naam/) > [I think we need to address greenhouse gas emissions. But I try to get involved in issues where I see a legislative result... So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-think-we-need-to-address-greenhouse-gas-emissions-but-i-try-to-get/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [ We will pay for this \[climate change\] one way or another. We will pay to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions today and we'll have to take… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-zinni/we-will-pay-for-this-climate-change-one-way-or-another-we-will-pay-to/) [Anthony Zinni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-zinni/) > [We have climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from human power and transportation infrastructure. At the same time, we have 2 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramez-naam/we-have-climate-change-caused-by-greenhouse-gas-emissions-mostly-from/) [Ramez Naam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramez-naam/) > [NASA's Aqua satellite is showing that water vapor, the dominant greenhouse gas, works to offset the effect of carbon dioxide - CO2. This information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cunningham/nasa-s-aqua-satellite-is-showing-that-water-vapor-the-dominant/) [Walter Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cunningham/) ## More by Peter Singer > [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Knowledge is generally considered a good thing; so, presumably, knowing more about how the U.S. thinks and operates around the world is also good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good-thing-so-presumably-knowing/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [The price we are willing to pay for safety cannot be infinite. It is distasteful to put a price on human life, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-price-we-are-willing-to-pay-for-safety-cannot-be-infinite-it-is/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [The hope of Internet anarchists was that repressive governments would have only two options: accept the Internet with its limitless possibilities of spreading information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-hope-of-internet-anarchists-was-that-repressive-governments-would/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [ Nineteen thousand children \[are\] dying every day. Does it really matter that we're not walking past them in the street? Does it really matter… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/nineteen-thousand-children-are-dying-every-day-does-it-really-matter/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“The unchallenged assumption is that humans may use animals for their own purposes, and they may raise and kill them to satisfy their preference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-unchallenged-assumption-is-that-humans-may-use-animals-for-their/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Beginning to reason is like stepping onto an escalator that leads upward and out of sight. Once we take the first step, the distance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/beginning-to-reason-is-like-stepping-onto-an-escalator-that-leads/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“Population growth is not a reason against giving aid but a reason for reconsidering the kind of aid to give.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/population-growth-is-not-a-reason-against-giving-aid-but-a-reason-for/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Well the real concept of basic needs if you cut it right down are simply the physical needs that are unavoidable for all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/well-the-real-concept-of-basic-needs-if-you-cut-it-right-down-are/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“Dairy farmers routinely remove calves from their mothers at an early age so that the milk will be available for humans; anyone who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/dairy-farmers-routinely-remove-calves-from-their-mothers-at-an-early/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Attempts to defend amusement parks and circuses on the grounds that they 'educate' people about animals should not be taken seriously. Such enterprises are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/attempts-to-defend-amusement-parks-and-circuses-on-the-grounds-that/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“A consequence of this alienation of humans from their own nature is that they are also alienated from each other. Productive activity becomes ‘activity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/a-consequence-of-this-alienation-of-humans-from-their-own-nature-is/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“I argued against the view that the only obligation we have to strangers is to avoid harming them; but even if we were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-argued-against-the-view-that-the-only-obligation-we-have-to/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [I believe that in this new world that we live in, we often have a responsibility, you know, to actually go beyond the thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-believe-that-in-this-new-world-that-we-live-in-we-often-have-a/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [It may be thought justifiable to require tests on animals of potentially life-saving drugs, but the same kinds of tests are used for products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/it-may-be-thought-justifiable-to-require-tests-on-animals-of/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) [Explore all 310 Peter Singer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I honestly don't know, but if America continues to refuse to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, I see a bleak future not only for American society, but for the world as a whole. 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