Major reductions in carbon emissions are not worth the money

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Major reductions in carbon emissions are not worth the money

13 Jan 2009

Speakers: Adam Werbach, L Hunter Lovins, Oliver Tickell, Philip Stott, Peter Huber, Bjørn Lomborg, John Donvan

Why Now?

Remember the “Inconvenient Truth”? It was Al Gore’s plea that we should all reduce our energy consumption and so cut our carbon emissions.

Judging by the aggregate numbers, the film – which made $50 million at the box office – was watched more than its message was heeded. Energy consumption and carbon emissions continue to grow worldwide.

But what if the “Inconvenient Truth” had come to the wrong conclusion? That is the conclusion of Bjorn Lomborg’s filmed riposte, “Cool It!”. Lomborg is not a sceptic about the science: global warming is happening and is an important challenge for humanity. But he is pretty persuasive that cutting carbon emissions will not have the right sized effect in the right time frame.

The film will deliver this message with all the presentational glitz on the “Inconvenient Truth”. But you can also listen to the same message challenged and argued in the crucible of an Intelligence Squared debate, this one from New York.

Event Information:

This event took place in New York on January 13th 2009. Thank you to IQ² US for allowing us to use this video.

Speakers for the motion

Peter Huber

Partner of the Washington, DC law firm of Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans, and Figel
Bjørn Lomborg

Danish author, academic, and environmental writer
Philip Stott

Professor Emeritus of biogeography, School of Oriental and African Studies, London