Article Review: We Need a Fresh Approach to Climate Policy. It’s Time for Climate Realism

article: We Need a Fresh Approach to Climate Policy. It’s Time for Climate Realism | Council on Foreign Relations, dated April 7, 2025 by Dr. Varun Sivaram, Ph.D.

The author is an accomplished advocate of clean energy.

He suggest that we be "realistic" about how the clean, renewable Energy Transition / GHG-carbon removal attempts are progressing and for the US to modify their planning and behaviour regarding the Energy Transition.

He lists 4 issues to be realistic about in 2025 (described as "fallacies"):

1. The world’s climate targets are achievable;

2. Reducing U.S. domestic greenhouse gas emissions can make a meaningful difference;

3. Climate change poses a manageable risk to U.S. economic prosperity and national security; and

4. The clean energy transition is necessarily a win-win for U.S. interests and climate action.

Briefly:

• 4 fallacies:

  • #1 - despite remarkable renewables progress, given growing demand and the size of the transition required, we're likely to hit 3C by the end of the century;

  • #2 - the author rejects any concept of moral leadership in this regard, as individual countries will always prioritize their domestic needs (i.e. well-being, national security etc);

  • #3 - "This is wishful thinking. The so-called “tail risks” from runaway climate change are both cataclysmic and too plausible to be ignored."

  • #4 - by switching to clean energy (where China dominates the manufacturing and supply chains), the US gives up its dominant oil and gas reserves. "The only way to align U.S. interests with a clean energy transition is for the United States to develop innovative, globally competitive clean technology industries."

He then lists 3 Pillars of his "Climate Realism Doctrine":

1. Prepare for a world that dramatically blows through its climate targets.

2. Invest in globally competitive clean technology industries.

3. Lead international efforts to avert truly catastrophic climate change.

Given that U.S. emissions are trivial for global climate change, one of the most important ways the United States can reduce global emissions is by developing and disseminating next-generation clean technologies.

Climate realism: Varun Sivaram on 4 climate fallacies - the author explains his Climate Realism Doctrine here.

More information on the author here.