Climate sceptic lashes out after losing funding

26/01-12 kl. 08:35 Politics

As the Copenhagen Consensus think tank loses government funding, its director, the renowned 'sceptical environmentalist' Bjørn Lomborg, says he is the victim of the personal politics of the Danish Prime Minister

by Mike Young

Copenhagen Consensus Centre, directed by the high profile opponent of tackling global warming Bjørn Lomborg, is to close in July after the Danish government cut its funding. Now the much-criticised author has told 'the Ecologist' that he is the victim of a vendetta, reports Seven59.dk and the Guardian.

Lomborg, who has a PhD from the University of Copenhagen, accepts that climate change is happening, but argues that current policies for reducing emissions are failing and are a waste of money. Instead we should focus on adaptation, he says, investing in renewable technologies and tackling poverty.

Denmark’s new government is less keen to support his views and will cut the funding to Lomborg’s centre.

Few willing to donate

But in an interview to be published next week, Lomborg tells the Ecologist that he was the victim of personal politics and a vendetta.

»I met with the woman who’s now Prime Minister [Helle Thorning-Schmidt, ed.]« I said: »I’d love to show you how the Copenhagen Consensus is a good idea,« and she looked at me and said: »I think that probably might be right, Bjørn, but I will just get so much more mileage out of criticising you.«

Lomborg, who is searching for new benefactors ahead of the June deadline, fears he is looking at a limited pool of donors.

miy@adm.ku.dk

Stay in the know about news and events happening in Copenhagen by signing up for the University Post’s weekly newsletter here.

2 comments

Write a comment

07/02-12 kl. 21:56 Marcus:

Even if we disregard the

Even if we disregard the track record and assume a priori that both are equally probable to be liars, I find it unlikely in the extreme that any competent politician (HTS, for instance) would make such a concession as Lomborg claims. Whatever thoughts she may have, she would be wise enough to keep inside her head.

26/01-12 kl. 18:39 Kåre Fog:

Who lies?

RHelle Thorning-Schmidt dismisses completely that she should have said what Lomborg postulates she said.
So who lies?
Lomborg has a track record of lying when he refers to what others have said to him, so it seems quite probable that he lies here too. Some examples are described in greater detail here:
www.Lomborg-errors.dk/Referringtooralcommunication.htm

By the way, one should not rely too much either on the output from Lomborg´s Copenhagen Consensus Center. See here:
www.Lomborg-errors.dk/Faadebate2008.htm

22/02-12 kl. 10:23 Culture

Your five step path to a good Danish job

Want to get a Danish job? The University Post asked three experts to give us their insider tips

See also:: Your five step path to a good Danish job, part 2

22/02-12 kl. 08:45 Politics

Government drops congestion charge

There will be no toll ring around the city of Copenhagen. Instead the coalition government will invest DKK 1 billion in public transport

See also:: Government split over charge on motorists

21/02-12 kl. 13:30 Education / Humanities

Trying to be trendy is hurting the Humanities

Humanities researchers should stop trying to look like they are smarties, says leading writer/researcher

See also:: Critical Aarhus professor: I face humiliation; Comment: Danish universities not 'world class'; Prorector: You can make money off the Humanities

21/02-12 kl. 08:34 Politics

Government split over charge on motorists

Disagreement over a toll ring around Copenhagen is now threatening the survival of the Danish governing coalition, according to media sources. A decision has now been pushed by the Prime Minister to Wednesday (updated)