Breakthrough Institute
The Breakthrough Institute is an environmental research center located in Berkeley, California. Founded in 2007 by Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, The institute is aligned with ecomodernist philosophy. The Institute advocates for an embrace of modernization and technological development (including nuclear power and carbon capture) in order to address environmental challenges. Proposing urbanization, agricultural intensification, nuclear power, aquaculture, and desalination as processes with a potential to reduce human demands on the environment, allowing more room for non-human species.
| Formation | circa 2003 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Michael Shellenberger Ted Nordhaus |
| Purpose | Environmental research |
| Headquarters | Berkeley, CA |
| Location |
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Key people | Ted Nordhaus (Founder, executive director), Alex Trembath (Deputy director), Kathryn Salam (Executive editor) |
| Website | thebreakthrough |
Since its inception, environmental scientists and academics have criticized Breakthrough's environmental positions. Popular press reception of Breakthrough's environmental ideas and policy has been mixed.