The Skeptical Environmentalist

Bjørn Lomborg small

Long-term-forest-loss-–-Marimekko

Mark Lynas

The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the World is a controversial book written by Danish author Bjørn Lomborg, a former member of Greenpeace and a professor of statistics in the Department of Political Science at the University of Aarhus in Denmark. The book was first published in Danish in 1998, and the English edition was published in 2001 by Cambridge University Press. Lomborg's work challenges widespread beliefs about the environmental state of the world and argues that, in many areas, things are getting better, not worse.

Summary

The Skeptical Environmentalist presents a comprehensive examination of various environmental issues, including global warming, overpopulation, energy resources, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss. Lomborg uses data and statistics to question the pessimism of the environmental movement and suggests that the doom-and-gloom predictions have not come to pass. He argues that humans have the ability to solve environmental problems and improve the condition of the planet through innovation and the efficient use of technology.

Reception

The publication of The Skeptical Environmentalist sparked a heated debate within the scientific community and among environmental activists. Critics, including scientists and environmental groups, accused Lomborg of cherry-picking data, misrepresenting scientific studies, and failing to acknowledge the complexity of environmental issues. In contrast, some praised the book for challenging the status quo and encouraging a more optimistic view of environmental progress.

The book led to an official complaint by the Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty (DCSD), which initially found Lomborg guilty of scientific dishonesty. However, this decision was later annulled by the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, citing that the DCSD had not proven Lomborg intentionally misled or displayed gross negligence.

Impact

Despite the controversy, The Skeptical Environmentalist has had a significant impact on public discourse about the environment. It has contributed to a broader debate about the accuracy of environmental predictions and the best approaches to addressing environmental challenges. The book has also influenced policymakers and thinkers in considering cost-effective and evidence-based solutions to environmental problems.

See Also

• Environmental skepticism
• Climate change denial
• Economic growth and the environment

External links

Due to the constraints of this task, external links cannot be provided.