Like many environmental documentaries, 'Planet of Humans' endorses debunked Malthusian ideas that the world is running out of energy.

In this quote, Michael Shellenberger, an environmentalist and advocate for nuclear energy, critiques the documentary 'Planet of Humans' for promoting outdated and debunked Malthusian ideas. The term Malthusian refers to the theory proposed by economist Thomas Malthus, which suggests that population growth will eventually outpace the availability of resources like food and energy, leading to catastrophic shortages. Shellenberger is arguing that the documentary falsely supports the notion that the world is running out of energy and that such ideas have been thoroughly discredited by modern energy and technological advancements.

Shellenberger’s criticism targets the film's portrayal of environmental crises and the sustainability of global energy resources. He believes that the documentary misrepresents the current state of energy production by emphasizing the limits of available resources, rather than focusing on the technological innovations that are increasing energy efficiency and opening up new possibilities, such as renewable energy and nuclear power. In essence, Shellenberger is pushing back against the alarmism that often characterizes certain environmental narratives, arguing that there is no immediate energy crisis as some have suggested.

The origin of this quote lies in Shellenberger's broader philosophy regarding energy policy and climate change. He is a vocal proponent of nuclear energy and often critiques the environmental movement for rejecting nuclear and other solutions that he believes can solve the world’s energy needs while reducing carbon emissions. Shellenberger’s stance is that the environmental movement should embrace a diverse range of sustainable technologies rather than clinging to outdated or overly pessimistic views of energy scarcity.

Ultimately, Shellenberger’s quote calls for a more rational and science-based approach to environmental issues, specifically regarding energy production. By challenging the Malthusian perspective, he advocates for optimism about human ingenuity and the potential for innovation to overcome the challenges posed by climate change and resource depletion. His viewpoint suggests that we need to focus on realistic solutions rather than relying on fear-based narratives.