Book Review: Brighter by Adam Dorr

Brighter by Adam Dorr (2023), ReThinkX

We all acknowledge that we are facing bigger than ever environmental challenges, The author of this book offers potentially convincing reasons for being optimistic regarding the “solving” of these current environmental problems. This is in line with what we can see coming from several other authors, although their lines of argument differ. For instance, all authors of the books that we have highlighted are passionate advocates of optimism and progress. Dorr’s main reason though for such optimism, is built on the technological advances that specifically help the enviornment and that have already been or can be expected. For Steyer, as well as for Klein and Thompson, the main reason for optimism is that an increasingly strong public commitment cannot be reversed, despite potential slowdowns that might be coming, say from leading politicians (such as Trump, for instance). Refreshingly perhaps, Dorr claims that today we already hold the “right” tools, primarily technological, in order to solve almost all such problems – energy, transportation, food, labor. So he feels that we have realistic reasons to be optimistic. The author’s simple but powerful recipe for success is the circular chain between innovation, mitigation and restoration. The only term among these that might call for some more explanation is mitigation, say, replacing fossil fuel by renewables, i.e., stop doing harm.

The author discusses a total of seven key concepts regarding technology, which provide the basis for his optimism:

-       Technological progress lets us do more with less.

-       Technology accumulates and accelerates. “Accumulates” means that once acquired, technological progress is not easily forgotten.

-       Technology follows a consistent pattern, so-called ‘S” or adoption curves.

-       Technology is driven by feedback loops. These can strongly reinforce adoption of new technology.

-       Computers accumulate all other technological progress.

-       There is still room for improvement in technology because complicated machines can be extremely small, the so-called “nano revolution”.

-       Scarcity is ultimately caused by a shortage of labor. Why is this a relevant factor? The key here is automation of labor, to complement mechanical progress.

The author then goes on to apply these seven principles to four areas of environmental concern— solving climate changes, degradation of our earth, cleaning up our oceans, and getting control over waste and pollution. Let us briefly discuss each:

1.        Solving Climate Change. The author sees this as largely a matter of dealing with three disruptions:

a.         The energy disruption, i.e., sustaining clean sources of energy for heavy polluters such as coal or oil.

b.        The transportation disruption, for example, introducing electricity as the main source of energy when it comes to land-based vehicles, or ammonia or nitrogen gases to propel ocean shipping.

c.        The food disruption, e.g. providing more precision fermentation, more cellular agriculture. Non-Co2 emitting fertilizers may represent a start.

The author offers eight insights helping to achieve climate enhancing changes within each of these areas:

-       The way to solve climate change is through prosperity, not austerity. It is expensive, and society must be willing to spend.

-       We must develop and scale up the technology we already have, being nuclear, solar or wind-based.

-       The immense power of markets is important. Relatively cheap electricity from alternative sources (solar, wind, nuclear) are critical to utilize, for instance.

-       A focused approach is called for, in contrast to “being all over the map”, the hallmark of many of today’s discussions.

-       The same technologies can be used to mitigate emissions as well as the removal of Co2.

-       In the end, decarbonization will save our societies billions of dollars.

-       Carbon taxes.

-       The disparity between wealthy and poor communities or countries will gradually disappear.

2.        Solving Terrestrial Eco-Systems Degradation. This implies gaining control over extensive soil expansion, unacceptable farming practices, forest degradation, new human settlements, and so on. The same eight factors as discussed under climate change apply here. Very focal areas would be better agriculture, “going vegan without going vegan” (precise formulation; cellular agriculture), ecological restoration, etc.

3.        Solving Marine Ecosystem Degradation. Here the author points out some of the enormous dysfunctional footprints of commercial fisheries, each as over-fishing (must be limiting), using too many antibiotics in fish farms, etc. Global warming also adds to changes in biological life in our oceans. The author points out that immediate steps, such as the ones outlined regarding climate change, should be applied.

4.        Solving Waste and Pollution. Fundamental here are more effective ways to enhance waste reduction in households as well as in industry, better waste management, such as collecting and incineration, as well as more systematic waste clean-up (compare the US and Switzerland, and keep in mind Bill Nye’s quote “to make the world a better place, sometimes you have to pick up other people’s trash”).

In the end, it is of course all about being able and willing to make meaningful decisions, at the right level. The author offers five such decision-making principles.

-       Be prepared!

-       Start experimenting!

-       Learn and adapt in the race to the top

-       Protect people, not business or industries

-       Use disruption as an opportunity to rethink assumptions.

While all of these factors are clearly valid, there are unfortunately significant discrepancies among key stakeholder groups that might make these, and Dorr’s entire approach, unoperational. For instance, there will be special interest groups who may aim to protect oil and coal driven businesses. Or many so-called developed economies may interpret learning effects differently from countries in the developing world, for instance. Coal-fired electricity generating plants are largely now seen as dysfunctional in many western countries but acceptable in India, China and many African sub-Sahara countries.

Conclusions

Dorr’s message is refreshing, in the sense that he calls for optimism, and advocates keeping things relatively simple, in contrast to endless complex debates without any commitments. Still, there is an element of utopianism in the author’s reasoning. But let us see this as a challenge, and not as an excuse to “throw in the towel” too early.

Dorr joins several other authors who have also offered optimistic perspectives on our capacity to address environmental challenges. Some notable books and authors that provide hope and actionable insights include Jane Goodall’s The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times; Hannah Ritchie in Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet; Regeneration: Ending  the Climate Crisis in One Generation by Paul Hawken; The Story of More: How We Got Climate Change and Where to Go from Here from Hope Jahren.

Clearly adding optimism to our outlook on the environment can be both inspiring and useful. Positive thinking enhances problem-solving. And Adam Dorr compellingly presents insights we can believe in, even those of us who tend to be more skeptical. Technological disruptions such as clean technologies have been proven effective in climate solutions and innovations continue. Adopting a “new environmentalism” that embraces technological progress to restore ecology and increase prosperity. He emphasizes innovation over regulation, and argues for developing superior technologies and adopting them when they become economically competitive, the latter point which can appease some of the more skeptical readers. Dorr also supports concentrating on the transformative potential of technological disruption. Are you ready for the mindset shift?