Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All

Michael Shellenberger's Apocalypse Never critiques what the author views as environmental alarmism, arguing that many claims about climate change and other environmental issues are exaggerated or inaccurate. The author suggests that progress and technological innovation, such as shifts to more energy-dense fuels like petroleum and nuclear power, have historically improved human well-being and even environmental conditions, like declining deforestation and recovering whale populations, while some environmental policies and activist tactics have been counterproductive or harmful. The text also examines how wealth and industrialization can contribute to environmental protection and contrasts this with arguments for limiting development, particularly in poorer nations. Ultimately, the author posits that a humanistic approach focused on facts, progress, and technological solutions is necessary for effective environmentalism, challenging apocalyptic narratives and what is perceived as an anti-development agenda within some environmental movements.