The skeptical environmentalist by bjorn lomborg biography

The Skeptical Environmentalist – Bjørn Lomborg – 2002

LOMBORG Bjørn, The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the World, éditions Cambridge University Press, 2002
(60 pages for the chapter about climate, 26€)

Bjorn Lomborg is professor of statistics in the political science department of the university of Aarhus, in Denmark. I don’t know what he is worth as a statistician, but he never published a single article in the scientific press regarding climate change. His website mainly insists on his public life, when the curriculum of any university research worker generally mentions first his publications in the specialized press (but Lomborg doesn’t have a single one in the domain he discusses, and is not very talkative on his “professionnal” publications in statistics or political economy).

I can’t help asking myself these two questions regarding this author :

  • his book has several thousands quotes, probably refering to an important number of papers and books (I just had a copy of the climate change chapter, without the notes). As Lomborg is not paid to criticize the IPCC or to read stuff on climate change or on any other environment problem, but to teach statistics, where did he find the time to read several thousand references he quotes ? Is this book really the work of a lone man ? If not, who helped him, when, how, why, and “paid” how ? If yes, once again, when did he find the time to read the litterature he criticizes or invokes ?
  • Lomborg is said to be a former member of Greenpeace, but I still haven’t understood in what circumstances he had left. If he really is a former member of Greenpeace, to what extent didn’t he publish this book to settle his account with some former “collegues”, as systematic criticism is generally the sign of an “affective” motivation ?

Important note : this page just discusses the “climate change” chap

  • Bjorn lomborg climate change solutions

    • The Skeptical Environmentalist

    Non-fiction book by Bjørn Lomborg

    The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the World (Danish: Verdens sande tilstand, lit. 'The True State of the World') is a book by Danish author and statistician Bjørn Lomborg which focuses on the author's view of environmental economics and issues. It was first published in Danish in 1998 by Centrum, and in English by Cambridge University Press in 2001.

    Lomborg was inspired by an interview with economist Julian Lincoln Simon to undertake an assessment of publicly available data, and published his findings as a series of articles in Politiken. These formed the basis of the book, in which Lomborg argues against a range of what he considers overly pessimistic claims about environmental issues and their impact on human prosperity. Lomborg argues that environmentalists' concerns over pollution, environmental degradation, decline in natural resources, and climate change are overstated, and outlines his opposition to policy responses like the Kyoto Protocol, deeming them insufficient and causing more harm than good based on cost–benefit analysis. He argues in favour of focus instead being channelled to poverty reduction and combating diseases.

    The book generated great controversy and negative reviews upon its release. Lomborg's assertions, methodology and representation of sources were criticised by scientists and groups both in Denmark and internationally. Positive reception in some popular media outlets contrasted sharply with this, and this combined with the ensuing debate aided the book's profile.

    The author was formally investigated by the Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty (DCSD) for scientific dishonesty, which confirmed the accusation and lack of expertise in relevant fields used in the book. The Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation criticised procedural aspects drawn by the DCSD,

      The skeptical environmentalist by bjorn lomborg biography

  • Bjorn lomborg copenhagen consensus
  • Bjorn lomborg funding

    • Bjørn Lomborg

    Danish author (born 1965)

    Bjørn Lomborg (Danish:[ˈpjɶɐ̯ˀnˈlɔmˌpɒˀ]; born 6 January 1965) is a Danish political scientist, author, and the president of the think tankCopenhagen Consensus Center. He is the former director of the Danish government's Environmental Assessment Institute (EAI) in Copenhagen. He became internationally known for his best-selling book The Skeptical Environmentalist (2001).

    In 2002, Lomborg and the Environmental Assessment Institute founded the Copenhagen Consensus. In 2004, he was listed as one of Time's 100 most influential people.

    In his subsequent book, Cool It (2007), and its film adaptation, Lomborg outlined his views on global warming, many of which contradict the scientific consensus on climate change. These views include the claim that the negative impacts are overstated and the opinion that too much emphasis is put on climate change mitigation at the expense of climate change adaptation. Lomborg agrees that global warming is real and man-made and will have a serious impact but enumerates other disagreements with the scientific consensus. In 2009, Business Insider cited Lomborg as one of "The 10 Most-Respected Global Warming Skeptics".

    Lomborg's views and work have attracted both scrutiny and praise from the scientific community. He was formally accused of scientific misconduct over the book; The Skeptical Environmentalist. The Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty concluded in an evaluation of the book that "one couldn't prove that Lomborg had deliberately been scientifically dishonest, although he had broken the rules of scientific practice in that he interpreted results beyond the conclusions of the authors he cited." His positions on climate change have been challenged by experts and characterized as cherry picking.[6]

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