I find it interesting that green activists and their political allies uniformly favor dramatic and draconian action to avert climate change. Serious policy analysts are different; they generally favor less dramatic action applied over the long term. What explains this difference? Perhaps it’s because the analysts understand long-term adjustments are much cheaper and easier than […]
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Why are economists the last sane optimists and what can they teach church leaders about environmental stewardship? These questions grow in importance as religious organizations dedicate themselves to issues such as climate change and energy use. Last summer gas hit over $3.00 per gallon, cities anticipated electrical blackouts, and the country faced serious prospects of […]
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Those of us committed to Green causes often respond more strongly to symbolic values than to careful analysis. Recycling offers a clear example. The environmental value of recycling depends on time- and place-specific circumstances. It almost always makes both ecological and economic sense to recycle aluminum and other metals. Often this holds for paper, only […]
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Tom France, of the National Wildlife Federation, organized a conference, “The Climate Challenge: Strategies for Montana’s Future.” FREE cosponsored last weekend’s Helena meeting. This effort was described as “a collaborative conference implementing a progressive, proactive approach, [to] address the growing global climate challenge.” It featured experts from agriculture, industry, economics, and conservation. Its goal was […]
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Americans seem hardwired to believe problems can be solved. This classic “can do” approach often works — but alas not always. Some afflictions are persistent but manageable; we handle gravity and crab grass via rebar or Ronstar. Other problems, some extremely serious, should only be acknowledged and confronted, not wished away via purported solutions. Success […]
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Go see Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. It raises awareness about global warming and motivates searches for constructive policies. Unfortunately, the film also polarizes proposed “solutions.” Many urge CO2 emissions caps. Others, fearful of economic repercussions, seek delay. Nobel Laureate and FREE’s 2003 Summer Scholar Thomas Schelling rejects the polarization: “It is not economic growth […]
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The proposed construction of six new coal-fired power plants in Montana has citizens rightly concerned about the human and ecological risks posed by the mercury emissions of these new plants. Like all environmental issues, this one is scientifically complex and highly emotional. And unfortunately, there are no perfect solutions. Much of the problem is beyond […]
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Three decades ago, it was rare to get three summer cuttings of hay at our ranch — now this is the norm. Global warming is a plausible explanation. Barbra Streisand, Al Gore, and many scientists have proclaimed consensus: global warming is occurring, we are causing it, and the consequences are significant. But the question remains: […]
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Science is systematically reducing uncertainties regarding the causes and consequences of climate change. This is critical, for it helps us identify the tradeoffs we must make. It is irresponsible and naive to pretend they don’t exist or won’t be difficult. Crafting effective solutions begins with considering two questions. First, should we care about a warming […]
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“We do not need to despoil the pristine wilderness of the Arctic Refuge,” said John Flicker, President, National Audubon Society. I strongly agree. The Audubon Society long accepted carefully controlled exploration on its Rainey Sanctuary, a 26,800-acre wildlife preserve in southern Louisiana. Audubon was a pioneer when it permitted carefully regulated gas and oil drilling […]
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