---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the light of this, it seems to me, we…"
description: "\"“In the light of this, it seems to me, we should recognize that the problem of climate change that occupies international negotiations today is not in ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/roger-scruton-971_change_in-the-light-of-this-it-seems-to-me-we-s_3034001.jpg"
---

#  In the light of this, it seems to me, we should recognize…

![“In the light of this, it seems to me, we should recognize that the problem of climate change that occupies international negotiations today is not in fact a diplomatic problem. It is primarily a scientific problem: the problem of discovering a cheap and effective source of clean energy that will…” quote by Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/roger-scruton-971_change_in-the-light-of-this-it-seems-to-me-we-s_3034001.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/roger-scruton-971_change_in-the-light-of-this-it-seems-to-me-we-s_3034001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/roger-scruton-971_change_in-the-light-of-this-it-seems-to-me-we-s_3034001.jpg)

> ““In the light of this, it seems to me, we should recognize that the problem of climate change that occupies international negotiations today is not in fact a diplomatic problem. It is primarily a scientific problem: the problem of discovering a cheap and effective source of clean energy that will remove both the cost of signing up to a treaty and the motive to defect from it. The solution to this scientific problem is indeed more likely to be found through international cooperation – but cooperation among scientists, not among states.””

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Scruton argues climate change is fundamentally a scientific issue needing cheap clean energy, not merely diplomatic, and that scientific cooperation, not state cooperation, is key.

**In simple terms:** Climate change needs scientific solutions, not just diplomacy.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize scientific collaboration for clean energy.

Themes

climate science policy

Mood

analytical urgent

Type

policy scientific

When to use this quote

- government negotiations
- energy markets
- research funding

Key Concepts

clean energy international cooperation scientific research

Questions to Reflect On

- What incentives drive clean energy innovation?
- How can states support scientific collaboration?

A Different Perspective

Diplomatic efforts still matter for implementation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Clean energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-energy/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Cooperation Scientists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooperation-scientists-4970316/) [Diplomatic Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomatic-problem-4970314/) [International cooperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-cooperation/) [International Negotiations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-negotiations-4970315/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Problem Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-climate-2093722/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-problem-4214802/)

## Related quotes

> [There is at the global level a very small number of actors who can meaningfully weigh in on global institutional design, who are able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/there-is-at-the-global-level-a-very-small-number-of-actors-who-can/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [We are not dealing with a scientific problem. We are dealing with a political issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-epstein/we-are-not-dealing-with-a-scientific-problem-we-are-dealing-with-a/)

[Samuel Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-epstein/)

> [“A small sample, we repeat, is rarely the big scientific problem. Interpretation is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thomas-ziliak/a-small-sample-we-repeat-is-rarely-the-big-scientific-problem/)

[Stephen Thomas Ziliak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thomas-ziliak/)

> [The problem with climate change is that it's quite complicated for the ordinary person to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-gordon-pugh/the-problem-with-climate-change-is-that-it-s-quite-complicated-for/)

[Lewis Gordon Pugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-gordon-pugh/)

> [“It is the first book, maybe the only book to talk about how the problem of climate change can be addressed in a positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-first-book-maybe-the-only-book-to-talk-about-how-the-2/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Innovation has helped with problems in the past, e.g. whale oil use, horse manure in the streets, increasing grain yields. “When we innovate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjorn-lomborg/innovation-has-helped-with-problems-in-the-past-e-g-whale-oil-use/)

[Bjorn Lomborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjorn-lomborg/)

> [Our problem is that the climate crisis hatched in our laps at a moment in history when political and social conditions were uniquely hostile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/our-problem-is-that-the-climate-crisis-hatched-in-our-laps-at-a/)

[Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/)

> [ To me, it's more important to take the 60-70% of people who really understand that there's a problem \[of climate change\] and get some… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/to-me-it-s-more-important-to-take-the-60-70-of-people-who-really/)

[Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/)

> [Too much dependence on the market has led to growing inequality and poverty, and too much stress on nature has exacerbated the problem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-kishida/too-much-dependence-on-the-market-has-led-to-growing-inequality-and/)

[Fumio Kishida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-kishida/)

> [In my personal belief, the big problem with climate change is getting people to understand the magnitude and scale that we're dealing with. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-herskovitz/in-my-personal-belief-the-big-problem-with-climate-change-is-getting/)

[Marshall Herskovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-herskovitz/)

> [The problem with climate change has always been that whilst political timeframes and economic investment timeframes work on a 3-5year cycle, the planet needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gardiner/the-problem-with-climate-change-has-always-been-that-whilst-political/)

[Barry Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gardiner/)

> [Climate change is not an environmental problem. It is a civilizational problem. Climate change is not just another issue. If it is not addressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-gelbspan/climate-change-is-not-an-environmental-problem-it-is-a-civilizational/)

[Ross Gelbspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-gelbspan/)

> [“It is the first book, maybe the only book to talk about how the problem of climate change can be addressed in a positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-first-book-maybe-the-only-book-to-talk-about-how-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Trump's election has opened many people's eyes in Europe to how valuable the European Union and international cooperation are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-malmstrom/trump-s-election-has-opened-many-people-s-eyes-in-europe-to-how/)

[Cecilia Malmstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-malmstrom/)

> [“It is a tragedy, at rate at which EBOLA VIRUS is spreading in West Africa. It is a fatal disease in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/it-is-a-tragedy-at-rate-at-which-ebola-virus-is-spreading-in-west/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

## More by Roger Scruton

> [Beauty is vanishing from our world because we live as though it does not matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/beauty-is-vanishing-from-our-world-because-we-live-as-though-it-does/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [“So conceived, the English police force served to emphasize a fundamental truth about the English law, which is that it exists not to control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/so-conceived-the-english-police-force-served-to-emphasize-a/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [My 2018 ended with a hate storm, in response to my appointment as chair of the government's Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/my-2018-ended-with-a-hate-storm-in-response-to-my-appointment-as/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [I've never been an optimist, but that's fine because pessimists have the possibility of being agreeably surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/i-ve-never-been-an-optimist-but-that-s-fine-because-pessimists-have/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [Unlike every other product that is now manufactured for the table, wine exists in as many varieties as there are people who produce it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/unlike-every-other-product-that-is-now-manufactured-for-the-table/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [The abstract, unreal freedom of the liberal intellect was really nothing more than childish disobedience, amplified into anarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/the-abstract-unreal-freedom-of-the-liberal-intellect-was-really/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [“I think we can all see the force of the idea that there are certain things that cannot be done to human beings –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/i-think-we-can-all-see-the-force-of-the-idea-that-there-are-certain/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [When art becomes merely shock value, our sense of humanity is slowly degraded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/when-art-becomes-merely-shock-value-our-sense-of-humanity-is-slowly/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [“Western democracies did not create the virtue of citizenship; on the contrary, they grew from it. Nothing is more evident in The Federalist than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/western-democracies-did-not-create-the-virtue-of-citizenship-on-the/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [“If one looks back to the French Revolution, one sees just how easy it is for the doctrine of “human rights” to become an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/if-one-looks-back-to-the-french-revolution-one-sees-just-how-easy-it/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [“I say it was immediately apparent, but it was not apparent to the intellectual class, which has remained largely wedded to the post-war consensus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/i-say-it-was-immediately-apparent-but-it-was-not-apparent-to-the/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [Conservatives hold on to things not only because they are attached to them, but also because they do not see the sense in radical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/conservatives-hold-on-to-things-not-only-because-they-are-attached-to/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [“Academic philosophers in the English speaking world still regard philosophy as Locke defined it in the 17th century, as “the handmaiden of the sciences”:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/academic-philosophers-in-the-english-speaking-world-still-regard/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [Delia Smith is, actually, my bete noire. I consider her a most pernicious influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/delia-smith-is-actually-my-bete-noire-i-consider-her-a-most/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [Modern art was born from a desire to destroy kitsch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/modern-art-was-born-from-a-desire-to-destroy-kitsch/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

[Explore all 317 Roger Scruton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

## 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. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“In the light of this, it seems to me, we should recognize that the problem of climate change that occupies international negotiations today is not in fact a diplomatic problem. It is primarily a scientific problem: the problem of discovering a cheap and effective source of clean energy that will remove both the cost of signing up to a treaty and the motive to defect from it. The solution to this scientific problem is indeed more likely to be found through international cooperation – but cooperation among scientists, not among states.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Roger Scruton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/in-the-light-of-this-it-seems-to-me-we-should-recognize-that-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/in-the-light-of-this-it-seems-to-me-we-should-recognize-that-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/roger-scruton-971_change_in-the-light-of-this-it-seems-to-me-we-s_3034001.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/roger-scruton-971_change_in-the-light-of-this-it-seems-to-me-we-s_3034001.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/roger-scruton-971_change_in-the-light-of-this-it-seems-to-me-we-s_3034001.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In the light of this, it seems to me, we should recognize that the problem of climate change that occupies…” — Roger Scruton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Roger Scruton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“In the light of this, it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/in-the-light-of-this-it-seems-to-me-we-should-recognize-that-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/in-the-light-of-this-it-seems-to-me-we-should-recognize-that-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
