Michael Shellenberger, the founder and president of Environmental Progress, took on 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg’s ignorant tweet about “the climate crisis” and explained why nuclear power is the only way to go.
In a series of tweets, he explained why renewables are "grossly inaccurate" and how the only source of energy that can "radically decarbonize energy supplies" and is the "safest way to make electricity" is nuclear.
"So spare us the hypocritical moralizing & fake denunciations of "climate deniers" & stop attacking nuclear," Shellenberger said, scolding radical environmentalists.
If you want people to think your goal isn't climate but rather making (& keeping) nations poor, then attacking France & Brazil, which get 86% & 79% of their power from zero-carbon sources, is a great strategy
— Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) September 28, 2019
PS: 26% of Brazilians (55M people) live in poverty you can't imagine https://t.co/NjgKRC9idP
Attacking nuclear as "extremely dangerous" reinforces the sense that what you want isn't lower emissions but "de-growth"
— Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) September 28, 2019
Why? Because nuclear
- is how France & your country, Sweden, get 86% & 90% of their power from zero-carbon sources
- is THE SAFEST way to make electricity pic.twitter.com/tArInyUmxX
French President @EmmanuelMacron is right: Your "Very radical positions [are] likely to antagonize our societies"
— Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) September 28, 2019
Indeed, they already have
But then, perhaps that was the goal all along?https://t.co/20KeNyRWpm
Shellenberger said if the activists just looked at what climate scientists are saying, they'd see a strong defense of nuclear.
Around the world, those seeking to shut down nuclear plants & replace them with nat gas & a few "renewables" are @Greenpeace @billmckibben @NaomiAKlein et al. while those people defending nuclear are the climate scientists for whom you claim to speak: https://t.co/lfHHEMDNSd
— Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) September 28, 2019
Since 2016, the global pro-nuclear movement & my NGO have prevented emissions from rising the equivalent of adding 24M cars to the road
— Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) September 28, 2019
How? By standing up to your allies
So spare us the hypocritical moralizing & fake denunciations of "climate deniers" & stop attacking nuclear pic.twitter.com/36ZdV9j8ST
I couldn't care less whether you go back to school or not but you should get educated about why only nuclear can radically decarbonize energy supplies...https://t.co/kT1zogU0mW
— Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) September 28, 2019
Shellenberger called on Thunberg and other environmental activists to take a look how the push for renewables completely failed places like Vermont and Germany.
You should study the example of Vermont where the anti-nuclear advocacy of @billmckibben & @BernieSanders led directly to a spike in carbon emissions — and why renewables proved grossly inadequate:https://t.co/fXaqEMC0PD
— Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) September 28, 2019
You should study the history of renewable energy advocacy's creepy, dark, Romantic, and anti-modern roots in Germany, which everyday proves why renewables can't power modern civilizationhttps://t.co/jb0mIpINCx
— Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) September 28, 2019
If you are going to condemn fossil fuels as "evil" then you should contemplate why it is that oil and gas companies are spending millions to promote the unreliable renewables that you, too, are promoting:https://t.co/8REtBKJPHx
— Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) September 28, 2019
He also pointed out the ecological impact of renewable energy sources.
If you're going to moralize against species extinction along with your allies @ExtinctionR then consider how wind turbines are killing endangered species around the world & may be contributing to the insect die-off in Germany and elsewhere:https://t.co/iA55b2sQ53
— Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) September 28, 2019
While environmental activists love to give end-of-the-world predictions if climate change isn't addressed, Shellenberger said "time is short" for another reason: the economic and environmental toll their efforts are taking on countries is happening quickly.
There's still time for you to learn about about energy, economic development, & the environment. But time is short. Your attacks on nuclear, France & Brazil, and your promotion of unreliable renewables, are rapidly undermining the ostensible goals of your crusade.
— Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) September 28, 2019
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