ECONOMICS, POLITICS AND CLIMATE CHANGE: ARE THE SCEPTICS RIGHT?

Economics, Politics and Climate Change

In practical policy terms, once the apocalyptic forecast is seen in context and the likely failures of government action are recognised, the case for urgent, centralised action against climate change seems much less convincing than the conventional wisdom of the day would have it. One does not have to be a `climate change denier’ to see that a degree of scepticism about the present consensus might be in order. In that sense, I think that the sceptics are right. Most likely, now – as in the past – many analysts have become carried away by the results of their models, which purport to look into a far distant future, and have convinced themselves that they must embark on a crusade to enlighten others. Dissent must be discouraged and indeed, in a mild version of the Inquisition, the views of anyone who questions the conventional wisdom should be disregarded and, if possible, suppressed. In such a climate, we need scepticism even if it brings condemnation by the top echelons of the Royal Society.