Environmentalism is a compelling issue in contemporary society. Public concerns about the demolition of our nature in an individual, enterprise, and governmental scope are continuously arising. This summer’s record-breaking temperatures and unprecedented abnormal climate caused awareness of the topic more than ever, with a perception that this environmental crisis is unavoidable. Along with such attention, publications from professional figures helped to specify social threats to nature, promoting various recognitions about the subject. The Yonsei Annals selected a few books that illustrate how this crisis and the environmentalism movement have evolved through the years.

The phantom menace

   The post-World War II era brought flourishing advancements in technology and industrialization, along with an ideology that humans are above all other beings. Such belief resulted in the negligence of environmental destruction and sequential health problems, which were beneath the brightness. Commercial benefits led to governments and corporations disregarding such issues, prompting a social consensus on the need for practical environmental movements. Rachel Carson brought the environmental movement into focus with the publication of Silent Spring, describing the impact of chemical pesticides on biodiversity[1].  

   Silent Spring highlights the side effects of pesticides that were abused during the 1960s such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). The publication points out the deadliness of their side effects, warning readers about the consequences of losing the nature that sustains human civilizations. Carson furthers her argument by warning that such environmental destruction would also damage humanity in the long term, creating a sense of urgency to the readers.

   Carson initially provokes interest by unraveling the scientific phenomena with poetic expressions. Phrases such as “lifeless remains of the birds that fell before the unselective bludgeon of insecticidal poison” are enough to immerse her readers into the perspectives of the damaged nature. Along with her descriptive tone, scientific evidence from her experiences as a biologist and relevant research adds credibility to her claims.

Environmental karma

   Over the years, problems such as global warming and loss of biodiversity escalated enough for the public to realize that the environmental crisis is affecting our everyday lives. Environmental movements evolved accordingly, striving to expand the local agenda on a global scale. Elizabeth Kolbert’s The Sixth Extinction represents such contemporary insight, indicating that it is not human technology but humanity itself that is an enemy of the planet. 

   Kolbert, a staff writer at The New Yorker, reports from the front lines of the violent collision between civilization and our planet’s ecosystem[3]. She endeavors to deliver the brutality of human civilization, unfolding relevant experiences displaying how convenient advancements are resulting in extinction crises for particular species. These instances then solidify the argument that humanity is the cause of an ongoing massive extinction, with uncountable species already having vanished due to the exploitation of the ecosystem. The Sixth Extinction delivers horrifying yet unexaggerated cases of environmental destruction, concluding that Earth’s sixth phase of massive extinction is in progress; the only difference this time is that the phase was artificially triggered.

   Experiences from Kolbert’s journalistic career provide a vividly terrifying image, alerting readers how trivial actions can accumulate to create an extinction crisis. The theories and statistics incorporated in the book build a sense of objectivity to the narrative. Kolbert creates a considerable impact by capturing how the crisis is deteriorating to an extent where the natural circulation of the planet is endangered, with natural cycles of the oceans and atmosphere altered by pollution. In this sense, she agrees with the trending radicalism, asserting that humanity is the greatest foe of the planet. 

Caution for exaggeration

   Following the wave of progressive idealism, environmentalism also became a mainstream topic. Such increased awareness of the movement resulted in certain side effects, with radical environmentalist movements blamed for social havoc. Movement groups such as Just Stop Oil became notorious for their actions. Last year, 2 Belgian activists who threw soup on Johannes Vermeer's Girl With a Pearl Earring have been handed 2-month prison sentences by a Dutch court[4]. 

   Michael Shellenberger’s Apocalypse Never represents the refusal of such radicalism. Throughout his writing, Shellenberger argues that the trending apocalyptic environmentalism is an exaggeration, merely provoking social havoc. He suggests that the world should instead be investing far more in making populations more resilient to the changing climate, particularly in developing countries[5]. Along with such an argument, Apocalypse Never attempts to persuade readers that nuclear power is the only reliable solution, vehemently introducing the advantages of the resource. 

   Shellenberger’s argumentative buildup is surprisingly feeble as the data and evidence in the publication are utilized for emotional and abstract appeals rather than objective arguments. He constantly utilizes instances irrelevant to the topic in his narrative, confusing the readers about what the storyline is about. Despite the critical fallacies and untidy contents Apocalypse Never contains, it illustrates that meticulous consideration is needed to tackle environmentalism.

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   Contemporary environmentalism has come to embrace various social agendas in the span of a few decades, guided by the insights of renowned experts in the field. The movement is gaining significance as the concerned consequences are transpiring around the globe. Since the topic itself is a subjective matter, scoping through various perspectives will help in constructing a healthy discussion for the sake of our planet. 

[1] Greenpeace

[2] The New York Times

[3] Global Times

[4] The Guardian