It sounds great. Campaigns are underway with the goal of planting trees around the globe; the World Economic Forum has an initiative to plant 1 trillion new trees. The aim of these programs is to reduce climate change, encourage biodiversity, and provide local employment. But, according to Benji Jones at Vox, “There’s just one problem:…
More Voices Speak Out Against Climate Panic
Now that the Biden administration calls climate change an “existential crisis,” and the UN Secretary-General warns that the world has reached a “tipping point on the need for climate action,” more temperate voices are beginning to speak up. People known for their expertise in economics are puncturing glib statements by politicians and the media. They…
The Doctors Should Know Better
An editorial appeared in 200 health journals this month, including prominent medical journals such as the New England journal of Medicine and the British Medical Journal. Its title was “Call for Emergency Action to Limit Global Temperature Increases, Restore Biodiversity, and Protect Health.” It contended that global warming is a crisis on the corder of…
Why Can’t Conservation Groups Buy or Lease Federal Land?
By and large,, conservation groups in the United States cannot buy or lease federal land or water rights and apply them to conservation goals. That is, they cannot obtain cattle grazing rights to let bison roam; “mining rights” to leave the minerals in the ground; timber leases to stop cutting trees; or federally supplied water…
Why Is the Economist Magazine Pessimistic about Agriculture when the Climate News Is Good?
According to the Economist, some investors are betting that, as the climate warms, agriculture will become more profitable in high-latitude regions such as Canada’s Manitoba. Russia is already leasing uncultivated acreage on its eastern edge to Asian investors to produce soybeans. Furthermore, more carbon dioxide (the supposed cause of warming) helps vegetation grow. “The buildup…
The Proper Role for Nuclear Power? Not a Big One, Says Energy Expert
A role for nuclear power in reducing carbon dioxide emissions is beginning to gain traction. The New York Times recently recommended it, and high-profile environmentalist Michael Shellenberger is an advocate. We asked Robert L. Bradley Jr. where nuclear power should fit in the future energy mix. Bradley is a widely respected energy analyst, founder of…