Climate Disaster Artist
As a climate activist, I looked forward to reading Arno Kopecky’s “Vaclav Smil Is Fed Up” (January / February), a profile of the acclaimed climate scientist. However, I was disappointed to read that Smil is fed up with climate activists and what he sees as our silly attempts to urge our political leaders to take stronger climate action. I do all of the things that Smil seems to decry as naive, such as going to climate protests and rallies. My colleagues and I try very hard to do all that we can to speed up the transition to clean, renewable energy. Smil, however, says “we are not in mortal danger.” Moreover, he suggests that our continuing addiction to fossil fuels is proof of the industry’s bright future. Indeed, he sounds more like a fan of Big Oil and Gas than a critic. Kopecky, an acclaimed author and environmental journalist, does his best to try to present Smil in a positive light. However, I finished the profile with the feeling that Kopecky himself is quite fed up with Smil, a sentiment I couldn’t help but share.
