There is also the constant conflating of climate policy with climate science in order to make subjective and ideological policy choices seem as if the science dictates those choices. But science informs policy, it does not provide objective answers to policy questions. However, those who disagree with the climate policy choices favored by extremists are labeled with offensive terms like deniers.
The Competitive Enterprise Institute rejects climate policies that assume Americans and humans all over the world must sacrifice their quality of living, be guilted into radical life changes, and give up on improving their standard of living in the name of fighting climate change. Even if the United States no longer existed, there would be little to no meaningful impact on global temperatures. Therefore, the myriad of extreme policies are all costs and no gain.
Using the force of government to impose policies that severely hurt humans today, especially the poor, without any meaningful benefits is not just foolish but indefensible. And when such policies are advanced, the proponents of those policies should always be expected to explain how their policy choices would meaningfully affect global temperatures. When they are unable to provide answers, which will be the case, their policy choices should be quickly dismissed.
The best way to deal with any genuine climate concerns is to remove government obstacles that hinder innovation, reduce wealth, and undermine prosperity and opportunity. Economic liberty benefits Americans generally, and at the same time, it is also the world’s best climate policy. After all, the wealthiest and most prosperous nations are far more likely to develop solutions to such problems than other nations.
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News Release
Will Gas Lines Come Back?
WASHINGTON, DC, December 3, 1997 — The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) began an ad campaign this morning attacking the proposed climate treaty being negotiated…
News Release
Kyoto Media Advisory: December 3, 1997
Many at COP-3 are behaving as if the Clinton-Gore administration speaks for the U.S — as if the eager quest for an aggressive global…
News Release
Kyoto Media Advisory: December 2, 1997
COP-3 opened as a Victorian drama, with the U.S. position in imminent peril as its prime defender, Undersecretary of State Tim Wirth, suddenly abandoned…
Products
Deja Vu All Over Again
History doesn’t repeat itself, but the machinations of big-government politicians are vexingly repetitious. Perhaps nothing better illustrates the plus ca change, plus ca meme…
News Release
Kyoto Media Advisory: December 1, 1997
(Kyoto, December 1, 1997) Japan’s Foreign Minister opened the UN climate conference, known as “COP-3,” by calling it “an event that could change the…
Newsletter
Vol. I, No. 11
Politics Europe May Compromise The European Union’s chief negotiator, Jorgen Henningsen, has conceded that the EU may be willing soften its stance on climate change.
Staff & Scholars
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Sam Kazman
Counsel Emeritus
- Antitrust
- Automobiles and Roads
- Banking and Finance
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Marlo Lewis, Jr.
Senior Fellow
- Climate
- Energy
- Energy and Environment
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Ben Lieberman
Senior Fellow
- Climate
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Fred L. Smith, Jr.
Founder; Chairman Emeritus
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Kevin D. Williamson
Writer in Residence
- Climate
- Energy and Environment