What, exactly, makes economist Nicholas Stern "one of the world’s foremost authorities on climate change"?

No Time for Europe to Go Flaky, Says Stern - Green Inc. Blog - NYTimes.com

The European Union should agree on a strong package of measures to tackle greenhouse gas emissions even if that means making concessions to satisfy reluctant countries like Poland, according to [economist] Nicholas Stern, one of the world’s foremost authorities on climate change.

“It’s absolutely crucial that they hold together on this,” Stern said Tuesday in a interview by telephone. “Now is not the time for Europe to go flaky.”

More on Stern's financial interest in CO2 hysteria

It is as if Stern had no critics. The entire house of commons appears to be in his thrall. One man, who now is Vice Chairman of a group of companies with a commercial interest in climate change legislation, is being cited in lieu of democratic debate.
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The house voted hugely in favour of the ammendments to the Bill, which means that shipping and aviation will now be included in the 80% target. If the bill is passed, then it will mean big fat profits for Stern, Turner, and their associates as shipping and aviation companies seek their services.