Saving Us

A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World

Katherine Hayhoe Central 363.73874 H419s 2021

Attitude change is endogenous, not imposed. Dr. Hayhoe's message is about learning about the person you wish to convince, and learning about where that person can go from where they are now. Learning about them, their beliefs, their values, their desires and their worries, then learning how to make an attitude shift desirable to that particular person.

Dr. Hayhoe has her own climate-threatening attitudes; page 171:

• But while safe, affordable, waste-free, widespread nuclear fusion may be part of our long term future, it is not likely to happen anytime this century --- and despite recent technological advances, nuclear fission isn't the all-encompassing antidote its enthusiasts often make it out to be.

I agree with the fusion dismissal - fusion leaks neutrons, and will create vastly more radioactive waste per watt generated than fission - but the fission enthusiasts I know (including myself) do not think of fission (or any single technology) "all-encompassing antidote". Fission is merely the second best way to make terrestrial grid energy with minimum ecological destruction (the best way is not wasting energy, learning to do more with less). And fission, as practiced in the 21st century, is the best way to destroy nuclear weapons - 20% of our grid power is powered by that destruction.