|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HELP | |
|
  $21.00
HARDCOVER, NEW
Ships in 1 to 3 days
This title in other formats:Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist's Guide to Global Warmingby Bjorn Lomborg
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:A groundbreaking book that transforms the debate about global warming by offering a fresh perspective based on human needs as well as environmental concerns.
Bjorn Lomborg argues that many of the elaborate and expensive actions now being considered to stop global warming will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, are often based on emotional rather than strictly scientific assumptions, and may very well have little impact on the world's temperature for hundreds of years. Rather than starting with the most radical procedures, Lomborg argues that we should first focus our resources on more immediate concerns, such as fighting malaria and HIV/AIDS and assuring and maintaining a safe, fresh water supply — which can be addressed at a fraction of the cost and save millions of lives within our lifetime. He asks why the debate over climate change has stifled rational dialogue and killed meaningful dissent. Lomborg presents us with a second generation of thinking on global warming that believes panic is neither warranted nor a constructive place from which to deal with any of humanity's problems, not just global warming. Cool It promises to be one of the most talked about and influential books of our time. Review:"Lomborg, a political scientist and economist with a conservative approach to environmentalism, presents a work that's likely to garner as much acclaim and disdain as his first book, 2001's The Skeptical Environmentalist. This 'Guide to Global Warming,' while thoroughly referenced and convincingly argued, ignores many climate studies and assumes that climate change will continue at a steady rate (not necessarily the case). From this vantage, Lomborg suggests workable solutions beyond 'hysteria and headlong spending,' proposing a tax on CO2 'at the economically correct level of about two dollars per ton, or maximally fourteen dollars per ton' and that 'all nations should commit themselves to spending 0.05 percent of GDP in R&D of noncarbon-emitting energy technologies.' Gross simplification, however, leads to misleading generalizations and questionable arguments, such as Lomborg's claim that a reduction in global cold weather-related deaths that outweighs the rising number of heat-related deaths means global warming is good for humanity. Though he argues passionately, Lomborg's efforts seem more about pushing his opponents' buttons than facing honestly the complexities of global climate change." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Review:"Bjorn Lomborg is a Danish statistician and darling of those who believe that markets should not be regulated and that concerns about the environment are overblown. He is articulate, certain in his opinions and well informed on the statistical minutiae of the topics he investigates. Indeed, so compelling and entertaining are the grains of truth that adorn his latest book, 'Cool It,' that you are certain... Washington Post Book Review (read the entire Washington Post review)
Book News Annotation:While the fact of anthropogenic global warming is certainly beyond
debate, argues Lomborg (an economist at the Copenhagen Business
School, Denmark), the nature of our response to it is not. He warns
that "hysterical" spending on extravagant carbon dioxide reduction
programs as envisioned by the Kyoto Protocol is a wasteful option,
especially in comparison to the good that could be done by diverting
extra resources to global priorities identified by the 2004
Copenhagen Consensus of economists. These include control of HIV
AIDS, addressing malnutrition, trade liberalization, control of
malaria, development of new agricultural technologies, research on
water productivity in food production, and lowering the cost of
starting a new business. According to the Copenhagen Consensus, all
of these are good to very good opportunities, while carbon taxes and
the Kyoto Protocol are bad opportunities.
Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Review:"[A] book brimming with useful facts and common sense.... Mr. Lomborg's cost-benefit approach won't sit well with leftists who see global-warming programs as a proxy for other goals (say, reducing "materialism")....But his analysis is smart and refreshing, and it may bridge at least one divide in our too divided culture." Wall Street Journal
Review:"Cool It is a highly valuable contribution to the climate-policy literature. In clear and concise prose, Lomborg diagnoses the problems plaguing contemporary climate policy, injecting a needed tonic of realism and common sense into the climate debate. And for that very reason, it is sure to make Lomborg's critics hot-under-the-collar." Jonathan Adler, National Review
Review:"A reasoned addition to the debate about what to do about climate change. And it is sure to provoke just as much controversy as his last book." Esquire
Review:"Bjorn Lomborg's rational and compassionate suggestions would save more lives, preserve more wilderness and have a better chance of eventually halting man-made global warming than hysterical catastrophism, global treaties, and high-minded energy rationing. Read this ingenious book." Matt Ridley, author of The Origins of Virtue
Review:"At last we have a book that puts the hype of global warming into perspective. Bjorn Lomborg's eye-opening book, Cool It, examines and meticulously documents climate change's effects and proposed solutions. An extraordinarily timely and supremely useful book." John Naisbitt, author of Megatrends
Synopsis:Written by the author of The Skeptical Environmentalist, this groundbreaking book transforms the debate about global warming by offering a fresh perspective based on human needs as well as environmental concerns. About the AuthorBjorn Lomborg is the author of The Skeptical Environmentalist. He was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2004 and has written for numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist. He is presently an adjunct professor at the Copenhagen Business School, and in 2004 he started the Copenhagen Consensus, a conference of top economists who come together to prioritize the best solutions for the world's greatest challenges. What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!
Average customer rating based on 2 comments: |
|||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Don't Miss
