Climate Radicals: Why Our Environmental Politics Isn’t Working

Abadi addresses an epochal issue of the times: how to maintain a domestic consensus for combating climate change. Much of this readable book is devoted to an anecdote-filled and engaging analysis of the radical ideology and unorthodox tactics employed by fringe protesters in Germany, whom the author criticizes for lacking pragmatism. He insightfully contrasts their strategy with that pursued by the Biden administration, whose Inflation Reduction Act he hails as a politically viable and effective step. The argument for greater pragmatism would be far stronger, however, if it considered (with quantitative data) the role of moderate parties, consumers, and business—whose concern is not ideology but the costs and benefits of economic regulation. In Germany, for example, even a pragmatic Green Party with charismatic leadership failed to convince large numbers of homeowners and industry groups that climate regulations would not hurt them. This book makes a convincing case that sound climate policy requires a more rigorous analysis of the domestic politics of climate change abatement.