Björn Lomborg: Europe's sceptical environmentalist

Though the images of abandoned cars in waterlogged East Coast streets might make you think otherwise, the relative toll that floods take on the U.S.—in property and lives—has decreased over time. Flooding costs as a share of gross domestic product declined almost 10-fold since 1903 to 0.05% of GDP, while annual flood death risk—fatalities per million—dropped almost threefold. World-wide data are sparser, but flood research shows costs relative to GDP and deaths relative to population have decreased globally from 1980 to 2010.

COPENHAGEN – Since the Copenhagen climate summit’s failure, many politicians and pundits have pointed the finger at China’s leaders for blocking a binding, global carbon-mitigation treaty. But the Chinese government’s resistance was both understandable and inevitable. Rather than mustering indignation, decision-makers would do well to use this as a wake-up call: it is time to consider a smarter climate policy. China is unwilling to do anything that might curtail the economic growth that has enabled millions of Chinese to clamber out of poverty.

Lomborgs kølige kamp mod dommedagsprædikanterne. Miljøforkæmpere har i snart 10 år forsøgt at fryse Bjørn Lomborg ud af debatten. Men han lader sig ikke kyse. I 'Cool it' gør han endnu et bravt forsøg på at mane til besindighed, før klimapanikken tager overhånd. Las hele anmeldelsen (PDF)