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.
Featured Posts
RealClear Energy
The SEC’s Climate Disclosure Rule Is a Dark Cloud Over Energy Abundance
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) climate disclosure rule posts real problems for public companies. The SEC’s mission is to do facilitate capital formation and…
Blog
Combatting climate anxiety: Yes, it’s okay to have children
The message that the Earth is rapidly decaying has long been evangelized by college professors and other gung-ho Malthusians in the media. It has led…
Blog
Spam alert! A devastating outlook on the SEC’s final climate disclosure rule
I have a paper out today, exploring the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) landmark finalized climate disclosure rule and the many challenges it…
Search Posts
New York Times
Letter to New York Times, “Assessing Outcome of Climate Talks”
To the Editor: Re ’’Copenhagen, and Beyond’’ (editorial, Dec. 21): You claim that the results of the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen…
Newsletter
Climate Change in Copenhagen, Intel and Antitrust and Rep. Barton Takes on the EPA
Tempers run high at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Federal Trade Commission takes on Intel over allegedly anticompetitive practices. Rep. Joe…
Fox News
Copenhagen Chaos Could Imperil Senate Climate Bill
All Voices
The Copenhagen Climate Conference Hullabo
Washington Times
Inside the Beltway: Coping with Copenhagen
Washington Times
A Green Woodstock
Don't be fooled by the lavish media attention given to raucous anti-globalization types at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United National Framework…
Newsletter
Wall Street Meets the White House, EPA Rules on Greenhouse Gases and Health Care Divided
President Obama hosts a White House summit with Wall Street banking leaders The Environmental Protection Agency publishes its final rule designating greenhouse gases as a…
Newsletter
Climategate in Copenhagen, Antitrust for Health Care and Swine Flu Takes a Dive
The “Climategate” science scandal looms over global warming negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) lobby to end the long-standing…
Newsletter
Re-importing Drugs, TARP for Small Business and Palin on ClimateGate
The Senate health care debate stalls on the question of whether to permit the re-importation of drugs from countries with price controls. President Obama announces…
Newsletter
EPA Power Grab, Antitrust for Insurance and an Immigration Stimulus
The Environmental Protection Agency finds that greenhouse gases endanger human health and welfare. The Senate may vote to repeal health insurance companies’ longstanding exemption from…
Washington Times
E-Mail Controversy Shifts Debate From Economy to Climate Science — but for How Long?
San Francisco Chronicle
EPA Declares Greenhouse Gases Pose Health Risk
USA Today
EPA’s Carbon Dioxide Emissions Ruling Could Raise Energy Costs
USA Today
An EPA Power Grab
Environmental Protec tion Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson yesterday an nounced that the EPA has determined that global warming, allegedly caused by mankind’s…
USA Today
Copenhagen ‘Circus’ Turning Into Feel-Good Jamboree, Critics Say
National Post
Climate Conflict
Fresno Bee
EPA Finds Greenhouse Gases Dangerous, Plans Regulation
Kansas City
EPA Finds Greenhouse Gases Dangerous, Plans Regulation
CS Monitor
EPA Rules that Greenhouse Gases are Harmful to Human Health
CBS News
ClimateGate Could Threaten Copenhagen Climate Deal
News Release
CEI Will File Suit to Block EPA Endangerment Finding
Washington, DC, Dec. 7, 2009—The Environmental Protection Agency today finalized its finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare and therefore must…
Newsletter
Credit Card Fees, Immigration Reform and Heading off an EPA Power Grab
The U.S. looks to Australia’s experience with regulating credit cards fees. Former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs softens his longtime anti-immigration stance. Environmental groups petition the…
CBS News
Al Gore Should Lose His ‘Oscar’ Due To ClimateGate
American Thinker
NASA’s ‘Non-Response’ Response to CEI FOIA Suit
Washington Times
Researcher: NASA Hiding Climate Data
Comment
Amended Petition to the EPA on the Proposed Endangerment Finding for Greenhouse Gases
On October 5, CEI petitioned EPA to reopen its Endangerment Proceeding because of a disclosure by the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit (CRU)…
Forbes.com
Show Me the Warming
It’s the science scandal of the year. A thousand e-mails and 2,000 other documents were swiped from the server of Britain’s Climate Research Unit at…
News Release
Millions of Jobs Threatened by EPA Petition
Millions of Jobs Threatened by EPA Petition Environmental Groups Call Obama Administration’s Bluff On Global Warming Washington, DC, December 2, 2009- Environmental pressure…
News Release
CEI Demands EPA Stop Plans to Regulate Greenhouse Gases in Wake of Climategate Fraud
CEI Demands EPA Stop Plans to Regulate Greenhouse Gases in Wake of Climategate Fraud EPA Poised to Issue Economy-Killing Energy Regulations‘ Washington,…
Newsletter
Online Gambling, Heath Care in the Senate and the Victims of Cap and Trade
Controversial online gambling regulations get delayed until mid-2010. Senators prepare for a long and possibly bitter debate over major health care legislation. The Leader of…
Newsletter
Climate-Gate Fallout, Black Friday Sales and Hunger at the Holidays
United Nations officials deny that the “Climate-Gate” science scandal has biased their predictions of global warming. Retail stocks drop after a disappointing performance by post-Thanksgiving…
Forbes.com
Will Climate Scandal Be a Tipping Point?
Forbes.com
Chris Horner: Climate-Gate E-Mails Released by Whistleblower, Not Hacker
After reams of information were posted on a Russian server detailing the inner workings at the highest — and highest-compensated — levels of what’s…
Forbes.com
Cap-and-Trade Prospects Looking Dodgy
Newsletter
Suing NASA, Swine Flu Declines and Climategate Tricks
CEI announces a plan to sue NASA over violations of the Freedom of Information Act. The Centers for Disease Control report cases of swine flu…
Newsletter
Health Care in the Senate, Hacking Climate Research and a Union Power Grab
The Senate advances Democrat-sponsored health care legislation in a party-line vote. Hacked emails from a leading climate change research center reveal questionable practices and methods.
Forbes.com
E-Mail Hacks Heat Up Global Warming Debate
Forbes.com
Hackers Steal Electronic Data From Top Climate Research Center
News Release
Scandal Rocks Global Warming Establishment
Scientists engaged in major global warming research and data collection have waged and discussed an internal smear and data manipulation campaign targeting critics of catastrophic…
Newsletter
Bailout Transparency, Climate Politics and Mortgage Foreclosures
Rep. Carolyn Maloney introduces a bill to make public details of the bank bailout. Critics accuse President Obama of failing the world on climate change.
Newsletter
Greenhouse Delays, World Food Summit and Swine Flu Stats
World leaders agree to delay a binding agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions. On the eve of the United Nations World Food Summit, a new…
Forbes.com
Climate Consensus? Not In Washington
Forbes.com
Lack of Climate Agreement Gives U.S. Time to Get in Line
News Release
Will Al Gore Change His No-Debate Policy After CEI’s Offer of Big Bucks?
For years, Al Gore has steadfastly refused to debate the global warming issue. Most recently, he ignored a put-up-or-shut-up challenge on the Glenn Beck Show from…
Forbes.com
Emissions Cuts Key to Climate Charter
Investors.com
The Coming Climate Dictatorship
Newsletter
Taxing Energy, Cell Phone Health Scare and Carbon Tariffs
The Senate Finance Committee holds a hearing on cap and trade legislation. Concerns grow over an alleged link between cell phone use and brain tumors.
Go Erie
Global Warming Conclusions Rapped
Penn State Behrend professor John Paul Rossi says “greenhouse gases are warming the planet at a rate that is growing faster even than the worst…
News Release
Senate Committees Take Up Climate Tax , Kerry-Boxer Fiasco Is a Job Killer
Senate Committees Take Up Climate Tax Kerry-Boxer Fiasco Is a Job Killer Washington, D.C., November 10, 2009— Two Senate…
Newsletter
Cap and Trade, Sarbanes-Oxley and Anti-Cat Regulations
Senate Democrats win committee approval of a “cap-and-trade” bill to reduce U.S. greenhouse gases over the objection of Republicans. The House Financial Services Committee voted…
Newsletter
Intel v. Antitrust, U.S. Chamber Caves on Energy and Accounting for Unfunded Mandates
New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo files an antitrust lawsuit against Intel. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce caves into to special interest pressure on energy…
News Release
Boxer Rams Economy-Killing Energy-Rationing Bill through EPW Committee
Boxer Rams Economy-Killing Energy-Rationing Bill through EPW Committee Tactics Doom Cap and Trade in Senate Washington, D.C., November 5, 2009— Senate Environment…
News Release
U.S. Chamber Caves to Special Interests on Energy-Rationing Legislation
Washington, DC, November 4, 2009—The Competitive Enterprise Institute responded today to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s announcement that it will now support energy-rationing legislation by…
Go Erie
1 Year Later-Obama’s Legacy of Lies and Broken Promises
It’s been a year since the president was elected, and he’s already piled up an impressive list of lies and broken promises.
Newsletter
House Health Care, Swine Flu and Emissions Trading in Europe
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveils the Democrats’ proposal for health care legislation. President Obama declares a spread of swine flu a “national…
Newsletter
Climate Hearings, Blocking Net Neutrality and ‘Astroturf’ Lobbying
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds a hearing on proposed climate legislation. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduces a bill into the house to…
Letters
Statement of Marlo Lewis on S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
Full Testimony Available in PDF Increasingly, proponents of cap-and-trade legislation argue that climate change is a major threat to U.S.
News Release
Senate Weighs Global Warming Energy Tax Bill in Thursday Hearing, CEI Expert to Testify on Disastrous Tax Scheme in Europe
Senate Weighs Global Warming Energy Tax Bill in Thursday Hearing, CEI Expert to Testify on Disastrous Tax Scheme in Europe Multi-Billion Dollar…
News Release
Europe’s Disastrous Climate Policy – a Lesson for Congress
The Competitive Enterprise Institute today cheered the publication of a new report that could help save the United States from an expensive, damaging new system…
Newsletter
Pay Cuts for Wall Street, Required Window Glazing and the New Public Option
The White House “pay czar” plans to cut paychecks for top bank executives by 50%. Environmental regulators in California move to require all cars sold…
Newsletter
Web Giants Battle over Networks, Obama on Climate and New Financial Regulations
Google and AT&T battle over web rules. President Obama won’t talk climate change at UN negotiations in Copenhagen. The House Financial Services Committee votes to…
American Spectator
Kerry Looks for a Legacy
After cap-and-trade energy legislation cleared the first test in the House of Representatives this summer, it stalled in the world's most deliberative body. Then, John…
Wall Street Journal
One of These Groups is Wrong About Climate Policy
I would like to add a point to your editorial "Apple, Nike and the U. S. Chamber" (Oct. 14). In supporting energy-rationing legislation, Apple…
E&E News
Groups debate NRC effort to tally ‘hidden costs’ of energy production
Boston Herald
Trust but Verify at EPA
Pittsburgh Live
The Climate Debate: Data in Doubt
Newsletter
Global Warming Data, Estimating Health Care Costs and Pulling Down Trade Barriers
Critics question the disappearance of scientific data used to make global warming predictions. The Congressional Budget Office releases new cost estimates for competing health care…
Washington Examiner
A Big Chill on Global Warming
Washington Examiner
It’s Raining, You’re Snoring
In his book "The Audacity of Hope," Barack Obama acknowledged that "sometimes there are facts that cannot be spun, just as an argument about…
Newsletter
Health Care, Climate Change and Nobel Economics
The Senate Finance Committee approves major new health care legislation. Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) write an op-ed for the New York…
New York Times
Scientists Return Fire at Climate Skeptics in ‘Destroyed Data’ Dispute
The Washington Independent
‘Not Evil Just Wrong’ Puts Human Face on ‘Disastrous’ Effects of Green Policies
Newsletter
Climate Negotiations, Senate Health Care and the Nobel Prize
Climate negotiators attempt to reach an agreement ahead of UN-sponsored talks in December. The Senate Finance Committee prepares to vote on health…
The Washington Independent
Rationalizing Rationing
Apple Inc. may have drunk the Kool-Aid, but most of the companies feuding with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over climate policy are energy-rationing…
News Release
European Union Finally Agrees with CEI: Kyoto Protocol Has Failed
This week the European Union has finally agreed with the Competitive Enterprise Institute that the Kyoto Protocol – the United Nations treaty aimed at reducing…
Orange County Register
Cap-and-trade a job killer
Newsletter
Climate Science Destroyed, Online Drug Advertising and Opposing Net Neutrality
A government-funded research center destroys the original data behind its predictions of global warming. The Food and Drug Administrations seeks input about online advertising of…
Orange County Register
Cool Cash to be Made on Warming Mania
Comment
Petition to the Environmental Protection Agency to Reopen the Proceeding on Proposed Endangerment for Greenhouse Gases
Petition of the Competitive Enterprise Institute To Reopen This Proceeding on the Basis of New Evidence Concerning the Destruction of Data, and To Reopen the…
News Release
Government-Funded Research Unit Destroyed Original Climate Data
Washington, D.C., October 6, 2009―In the wake of a revelation by a key research institution that it destroyed its original climate data, the Competitive Enterprise…
Newsletter
Questionable Stimulus, EPA on CO2 and Underfunded Union Pensions
Experts question the economic wisdom of government stimulus spending. Critics of the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to regulate carbon dioxide emissions point out the cost…
News Release
Unemployment Report, Real Solutions
Today's unemployment report showed the U.S. jobless rate reaching 9.8 percent, the highest since 1983. And although unemployment is referred to as a "lagging indicator"…
National Review
A Century Behind: Our Electricity Regulations Are Stuck in Progressive Era
It's the seemingly intractable problem of modern civilization: Americans need more electricity, they want lower greenhouse-gas emissions, and they want to get rid of ugly…
Newsletter
Credit Card Fees, Nike Resigns and EU Chemical Policy
Convenience store chain 7-Eleven lobbies for restrictions on credit card processing fees. Nike resigns from the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in protest…
Washington Examiner
Media’s Homers Yawn as Obama Cons
Newsletter
Probing Treasury, Car-Free Conflicts and a Quiet Hurricane Season
Controversy continues to swirl around Treasury Department documents estimating the costs of cap and trade regulation. Observance of World Car-Free Day yields conflicting opinions about…
News Release
Senate Takes on Cap and Trade
Washington, D.C., September 29, 2009—On Wednesday Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) are scheduled to introduce global warming legislation that would create a…
Comment
Notice of Appeal – FOIA Request – Communications Regarding “Cap-and-Trade”
Excerpt Listed Below Full Appeal Available in PDF …
News Release
Obama Treasury Dept Still Hiding Info on Global Warming ‘Cap-and-Tax’ Costs
Obama Treasury Dept Still Hiding Info on Global Warming ‘Cap-and-Tax’ Costs Admissions of Job Losses & Hundreds of Billions in Cost Insufficient; CEI to…
Washington Examiner
Biased Reporting of Supreme Court Fuels Leftist Resurgence
American law has moved in a leftward direction over the last 20 years, steadily restricting use of the death penalty and criminal sentencing, and…
Study
The Geopolitics of Climate: Cutting Through the Spin on International Climate Agreements
Full Document Available in PDF With the G20 group in Pittsburgh discussing global warming negotiations at President Obama’s insistence, the public needs to…
Washington Examiner
The Military-Industrial-Environmental Complex
President Obama, speaking to the United Nations this week, cast climate change unequivocally as a threat to national security. He told the General Assembly,…
Washington Examiner
Climate Lies
Newsletter
Obama at the UN, the Healthcare Tax and the Costs of Cap and Trade
President Obama call for a “new era of global engagement” in addressing climate change and other issues. Economists debate the financial impact that a healthcare…
National Post
Obama’s Climate Fantasies
President Barack Obama’s speech on global warming to the United Nations yesterday was based on fantasy. Here are some quotes from the speech followed by…
Hot Air
The End of the Fixer-Upper?
Pajamas Media
Politico: Cap-and-Trade Will Depress Home Prices
Politico
Cap-and-Trade Will Depress Home Prices
Cap and trade is back in the news. By the end of this month, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is…
Politico
Inhofe Pans Obama Climate Speech
Newsletter
Net Neutrality, Treasury’s Global Warming Memos and Car-Free Day
The Federal Communications Commission plans to introduce so-called “net neutrality” regulations for ISPs, including wireless companies. Treasury Department memos estimating the cost of the White…
Staff & Scholars
Sam Kazman
Counsel Emeritus
- Antitrust
- Automobiles and Roads
- Banking and Finance
Marlo Lewis, Jr.
Senior Fellow
- Climate
- Energy
- Energy and Environment
Ben Lieberman
Senior Fellow
- Climate
- Consumer Freedom
- Energy
Fred L. Smith, Jr.
Founder; Chairman Emeritus
- Automobiles and Roads
- Aviation
- Business and Government
Kevin D. Williamson
Writer in Residence
- Climate
- Energy and Environment