Pascal Couchepin: «Threats of an imminent apocalypse are false».»

Each month, we feature a column by one of the personalities who give us the pleasure of alternating between the two. Current affairs, history, politics and philosophy: former Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin's readings.

Has the health emergency pushed the climate emergency into second place among our concerns? One might think so, given current events. In reality, the two emergencies have always been complementary. A litany from the Middle Ages evokes the evils from which humanity wishes to preserve itself. «Free us from hunger, pestilence and war. Hunger is the result of adverse climatic conditions. Plague is today's Covid. As for war, it's terrorism or the risk of conflict between the USA and China. Politics must find the right answers for our times to combat these scourges.

As far as the climate is concerned, there is consensus on the importance of the human factor in global warming, even if there are legitimate differences of opinion on the respective roles of human activity and nature. We must act on what depends on us. The Paris Agreement, which came into force in November 2015, is the expression of this consensus. It is not easy to put into practice, as demonstrated by the failure in our country of the CO₂. It's time to get back to work. Imprecations are not enough, especially as our means are limited. Threats of a coming apocalypse are counterproductive and false.

This is what Michael Shellenberger aims to demonstrate in Apocalypse never published in 2020 by Harper's, unfortunately not yet translated into French. In his youth, the author was a Greenpeace activist. Today, he works as a science journalist for major American newspapers. He has won awards for the quality of his articles.

«Provocative yet thought-provoking conclusions».»

In Apocalypse never, Shellenberger examines the causes of catastrophic events such as the California wildfires, or subjects to critical scrutiny constantly repeated assertions which, when confronted with reality, turn out to be dubious or even false. His conclusions are both provocative and thought-provoking. He is fundamentally confident in the ability of science to help find politically acceptable solutions. He is convinced that nuclear power is indispensable to a successful energy transition. He is opposed to ready-made solutions concocted by partisan organizations far removed from the field, such as «Extinction Rebellion».

The coming years will be decisive for our climate future. Partisan haste or ignorance of the facts will compromise the success of the transition. Apocalypse never is an intelligent contribution to the necessary success.

You have just read a column published in our print edition (Le Regard Libre N° 79).

Apocalypse never
Michael Shellenberger
Harper
2020
432 pages

Order the book