Births on January 6

Bjørn Lomborg, Danish author and academic

Bjørn Lomborg, born on January 6, 1965, is a distinguished Danish author and public intellectual widely recognized for his analytical approach to global challenges. He currently serves as the president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, a prominent think tank dedicated to identifying and prioritizing the most effective solutions to global problems based on rigorous economic analysis and cost-benefit assessments. Prior to this, Lomborg held the influential position of director at the Danish government's Environmental Assessment Institute (EAI) in Copenhagen, a role that significantly shaped his early engagement with environmental policy and data interpretation.

Lomborg gained international prominence and sparked considerable debate with the publication of his best-selling and often controversial book, The Skeptical Environmentalist (2001). In this influential work, he meticulously argues that many of the costly and extensive measures adopted by scientists and policymakers to mitigate global warming impacts are ultimately inefficient and will yield only minimal reductions in the planet's rising temperature. His critique centers on the perceived disproportionate allocation of resources towards certain climate interventions when, in his view, more effective and immediate solutions to other pressing global issues might exist.

In 2002, Lomborg, in collaboration with the Environmental Assessment Institute, founded the innovative Copenhagen Consensus project. This initiative brings together leading economists, including Nobel laureates, in a series of conferences to establish global development priorities. The core methodology of the Copenhagen Consensus is deeply rooted in the theory of welfare economics, which involves a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of various proposed solutions to global challenges, such as disease, hunger, and environmental degradation. The aim is to determine where investments can achieve the greatest positive impact on human welfare and overall societal well-being.

Lomborg's views have positioned him as a notable voice in environmental discussions. In 2009, for instance, Business Insider recognized him among "The 10 Most-Respected Global Warming Skeptics." It is crucial to clarify that while Lomborg has consistently campaigned against short-term carbon emission reduction mandates, such as the Kyoto Protocol – an international treaty designed to commit state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – he does not deny the reality of climate change itself. Instead, his central argument is that the current economic and political strategies for addressing climate change are often inefficient or disproportionately expensive compared to their potential benefits. He advocates for alternative approaches, emphasizing the importance of adapting to immediate temperature increases and significantly increasing investment in research and development (R&D) to foster innovative, potentially transformative longer-term environmental solutions.

Furthermore, Lomborg frequently asserts that global attention and financial resources should be redirected towards what he identifies as more pressing and immediately solvable world problems that cause immense human suffering and have readily available, cost-effective interventions. He often cites examples such as the global fight against AIDS, malaria, and chronic malnutrition. Reflecting this perspective, in his critique of the 2012 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (often referred to as Rio+20), Lomborg unequivocally stated: "Global warming is by no means our main environmental threat," underscoring his belief in a broader and more prioritized allocation of global resources towards immediate human welfare challenges.

Naturally, Lomborg's distinct views and extensive body of work have attracted considerable attention and scrutiny, particularly from within the scientific community. He faced a formal accusation of scientific misconduct specifically related to the analytical rigor and presentation of data in The Skeptical Environmentalist. Following a thorough evaluation of the book, the Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty issued a nuanced conclusion: they found that while "one couldn't prove that Lomborg had deliberately been scientifically dishonest," he had indeed "broken the rules of scientific practice in that he interpreted results beyond the conclusions of the authors he cited." This finding highlighted concerns about the interpretation and selective presentation of scientific data in his widely read publication.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bjørn Lomborg

Who is Bjørn Lomborg and what is he known for?

Bjørn Lomborg, born in 1965, is a Danish author and public intellectual. He is best known as the president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center and for his controversial 2001 book, The Skeptical Environmentalist. In this book, he argues that many costly environmental policies, particularly those aimed at immediate global warming reduction, are economically inefficient and yield minimal impact, advocating instead for different priorities.

What is the Copenhagen Consensus Center?

The Copenhagen Consensus Center is a think tank founded by Bjørn Lomborg in 2002. Its core mission is to identify and promote the most effective solutions to global challenges. It achieves this by gathering prominent economists to conduct rigorous cost-benefit analyses, using methods based on welfare economics, to determine where investments can generate the greatest positive impact on global welfare.

What are Bjørn Lomborg's views on climate change?

Bjørn Lomborg acknowledges the reality of climate change but fundamentally critiques the current economic and political approaches to addressing it. While he campaigned against short-term carbon emission cuts like those proposed by the Kyoto Protocol, he advocates for adapting to immediate temperature rises and significantly investing in research and development for long-term environmental solutions. He also argues that resources should be redirected towards what he sees as more pressing and immediately solvable global problems, such as AIDS, malaria, and malnutrition.

Has Bjørn Lomborg faced scientific criticism?

Yes, Bjørn Lomborg's work, particularly his book The Skeptical Environmentalist, has faced significant scrutiny within the scientific community. He was formally accused of scientific misconduct. While the Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty concluded that deliberate dishonesty could not be proven, they did find that Lomborg had "broken the rules of scientific practice" by interpreting results beyond the explicit conclusions of the authors he cited in his book.