Markey: False Choices on World's Challenges Solves Nothing

Lomborg Op-ed Ignores Steep Cost of Inaction

WASHINGTON (October 7, 2007) – Chairman Edward J. Markey of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming criticized Bjorn Lomborg’s op-ed in today’s Washington Post as pushing false choices in the fight to solve our world’s greatest challenges.

The economist Sir Nicholas Stern has found that every dollar invested now to curb global warming will avoid a cost of five to twenty times more than if global warming pollution is left unchecked.

Below is the statement of Chairman Markey:

“Mr. Lomborg would have us treat symptoms--more malaria--instead of the disease--heat-trapping carbon pollution--because he views it as cheaper in the short run.  The most thorough economic analysis to date of the cost of capping carbon emissions versus the cost of not doing so says this ratio is 1 to 5. For every dollar invested now, we are preventing 5 being spent later to head off this disaster. Mr. Lomborg’s answers are penny-wise, pound foolish, and a prescription for widespread calamity in areas of the world least responsible for the problem and least able to avoid it.

Mr. Lomborg seems to think there are limits to ingenuity, compassion, and action. These are renewable resources that only increase with the size and importance of the challenges we face. We can fight malaria while cutting the emissions that cause more infectious diseases. We can save low-lying countries while stopping the sea-level rise that threaten their very existence.

“Lomborg's fog of false choices can obscure real solutions, solutions we know are available today. It's time to make a positive choice toward a cleaner, safer, more prosperous world.”

Return to Press Releases »

del.icio.us   Digg this   Reddit   Stumbleupon