The Revenge of Gaia

In this text, The Revenge of Gaia, James Lovelock, the author, asserts that the earth is weakening due to the over population of humans and global warming. He states, “when the Earth was young and strong, it resisted adverse change and the failure of its own temperature regulation; now it may be elderly and less resilient” (Lovelock 3). Lovelock is stating that in the past, the Earth was able maintain its regulation and temperature but since humans contributed to the increase of carbon dioxide due to deforestation the burning of fossil fuels and methane, and deforestation, it is now impossible for the Earth to commit such a task. Humans contributing to the increase of greenhouse gases has allowed for the melting of glaciers, which now allows for the Earth to absorb more sunlight, ultimately, increasing the Earths temperature.
An approach to this possible solution is to create a ‘sustainable development’, however, climate change is so far out of out reach that it is impossible to ‘sustain’ it.
“The error they share is the belief that further development is possible and that the Earth will continue, more or less now, for at least the first half of this century. Two hundred years ago, when change was slow or non-existent, we might have had the time to establish sustainable development, or even have continued for a while with business as usual, but now is much too late; the damage has already been done” (Lovelock 4).
Lovelock is stating that now the idea of a “sustaining development” is no longer possible, it could have been when climate changes wasn’t sever as it is now, and population wasn't so heavily dense.
On page 12, Lovelock posed a drastic alternative, which was the use of nuclear energy. “ I entreat my friends among the greens to reconsider their naïve belief in sustainable development and renewable energy, and that this and saving energy are all that needs to be done. Most of all, they must drop their wrongheaded objection to nuclear energy” (Lovelock 12). With this being said, this demonstrates that Lovelock supports the use of nuclear energy, which in fact can be extremely dangerous. “Civilization is in imminent danger and has to use nuclear energy now, or suffer the pain soon to be inflicted by our outraged planet” (Lovelock 14). We had seen the results from the use of nuclear energy, i.e. Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. So, why should our alternative be worst then climate change itself?



Loveock, James. The Revenge of Gaia. Basic Books, 2006. 208. Print.