Break Through

Review "'The Death of Environmentalism'...has provoked a civil war among tree-huggers for its assertion that 'modern environmentalism, with all of its unexamined assumptions, outdated concepts, and exhausted strategies, must die so that something new can live.' Sad to say, the authors are right." --New York Times Product Description Environmental insiders Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus triggered a firestorm of controversy with their self-published essay, "The Death of Environmentalism." In it, they argued that global warming is far more complex than past pollution problems. American values have changed dramatically since the environmental movement's greatest victories in the 1960s, yet environmentalists keep fighting the same battles without realizing that the battlefield has changed. Noting a connection between the failures of environmentalism and the failures of the entire left-leaning political agenda, the authors point the way toward an aspirational politics that will resonate with modern American values and be capable of tackling our most pressing challenges. About the Author MICHAEL SHELLENBERGER and TED NORDHAUS have spent their entire careers working with environmental organizations. They are managing directors of American Environics, a social values research and political strategy firm, and are senior fellows with the Breakthrough Institute. Their vision of a new, more effective environmentalism is reflected in these proposals already introduced into Congress: "The New Apollo Project" by Representative. Jay Inslee, "Health Care for Hybrids," by Senator Barack Obama, and "Global Warming Preparedness," by Senators John Kerry and Olympia Snowe.