"'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a civil war among tree-huggers for its assertion that 'modern environmentalism, with all of its unexamined assumptions, outdated concepts, and exhausted strategies, must die so that something new can live.'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

Environmental insiders Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus triggered a firestorm of debate with their self-published essay, "The Death of Environmentalism." In this eagerly anticipated follow-up, the authors expand upon their argument that the paradigms driving the environmental movement and much of liberal politics are outdated and ineffective. A politics centered on restricting human growth and development, they point out, does not resonate with the primary concerns of either the developing world or insecure modern Americans-nor can it solve a problem as large and complex as global warming. What is needed instead, they argue, is a new kind of development, motivated by an optimistic vision of the future that integrates ecological, social, and economic change. By shifting from a politics of fear and limits to one of expansive possibility, they say, we can galvanize American creativity and enterprise to tackle our most pressing challenges.