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
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EPA repeals another costly rule targeting affordable and reliable coal
Though not nearly as far-reaching as the recently announced end to the Endangerment Finding, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) February 20 final rule repealing…
Blog
Trump withdraws from UN Framework Convention; ends illusion we’ll always have Paris
President Trump is withdrawing the United States from 66 intergovernmental organizations he has determined are “contrary to the interests of the United States.” This is…
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CEI commends President Trump for withdrawing US from 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
President Trump announced this evening that the United States is withdrawing from many international agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate…
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Op-Eds
A Clear Mistake
The Clear Skies Initiative, President Bush's big environmental bill targeting power plant emissions, appears to be stalled in Congress. In an effort to…
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December Edition of the Monthly Planet
Full Document Available in PDF Articles in this edition:…
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Virtually Extinct
It seems that virtually every news organ in the English language has carried the story of new scientific claims published in Nature magazine that…
Newsletter
Vol VIII, No. 1
Politics News of Kyoto’s Death Spreads The realization that the Kyoto Protocol is as good as dead seems to…
Newsletter
Vol VII, No 25
Politics Little Happens at Gloomy COP-9 The ninth conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-9),…
Op-Eds
An Improved Climate
Every year, environmental alarmists claim we have taken another step on the road to ruin. This year, they claim 2003 was the third-hottest…
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The Green Inquisitor
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New Rules May Give Diesel Vehicles a Needed Boost
The vast majority of Americans are satisfied with cars and sport-utility vehicles powered by gasoline. In contrast to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns…
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The International Green Agenda
Environmental groups were stunned when the cash-strapped Turner Founda-tion—which gave about $28 million to green causes in 2002—announced recently that it would temporarily suspend all…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 24
Politics Energy Department’s Proposal Omits Transferable Credits On November 26, the Department of Energy unveiled its long-awaited proposals to “enhance” the Voluntary Reporting…
Newsletter
Vol.VII, No 22
Politics Senate Defeats Lieberman-McCain Bill to Cap Greenhouse Gas Emissions The U. S. Senate defeated a scaled-down version of Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.)…
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October Edition of the Monthly Planet
Full Document Available in PDF Articles in this edition: “On…
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Lieberman-McCain Bill Meets a Welcome Defeat
Contact for Interviews:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 …
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Lieberman-McCain Bill Would Place Hidden Tax on Consumers
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” /> Contact for Interviews: Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns…
Op-Eds
Kyoto Through the Back Door? A Debate on the Lieberman – McCain Climate Stewardship Act
Denounced by its critics as an energy-rationing scheme, and hailed by its supporters as a measure to counteract the dire consequences of global warming, the…
Op-Eds
Lewis Letter to DOE
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />October 23, 2003<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> Mrs.
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Russia Could Sink Kyoto — and McCain-Lieberman
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> The Climate Stewardship Act (S. 139), introduced by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 20
Politics Moscow Conference Casts Doubt over Kyoto’s Future The United Nations’ World Climate Change Conference, which concluded in…
Op-Eds
CEI President Fred L. Smith, Jr. Cited in Novak Column
To read Robert Novak’s October 16 column, please click here.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />…
Op-Eds
Russia Buries Kyoto ‘Consensus’
The most momentous event in the politics of climate change since <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />America's decision to shelve the Kyoto…
Op-Eds
McCain’s Nose-Under-the-Tent Strategy
Who does Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) think he is fooling? <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> …
News Release
Global Warming Shakeup in Moscow
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” /> Contact for Interviews: <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> Richard Morrison,…
Op-Eds
Adrift on the Seas of Knowledge
Senators John McCain (R., Ariz.) and Joe Lieberman (D., Conn.) are deeply concerned about the issue of global climate change. So much so that…
News Release
Study Reports Good News on U.S. Air Quality
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., October 2, 2003—Air quality in the United States is good and will continue to…
Op-Eds
Ozone Depletion’s Lessons for Global Warming
Depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer is slowing, according to a study scheduled for publication in the Journal of Geophysical Research. At a press conference,…
News Release
Accusations of Collusion with White House over Junk Science Lawsuit Absurd
Contact for Interviews: Jody Clarke, 202.331.2252 Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 Washington, D.C., September 25, 2003—The Competitive Enterprise Institute today rejected charges of collusion…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 19
Politics Energy Conference Steers Clear of Climate Change So Far House and Senate conferees working to produce a comprehensive energy bill…
Op-Eds
Are We All “Damn Fools”?
The accomplished British humorous songwriters <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Flanders and Swann (Donald Swann put JRR Tolkien's various Middle Earth…
News Release
Hurricane Isabel a Byproduct of Industry?
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” /> Washington, D.C., September 22, 2003—Upon learning of the World Watch Institute’s claim that Hurricane Isabel…
Op-Eds
Fixing the Game
<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml” /><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /><?xml:namespace prefix = w ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word” />Foreign countries are…
Op-Eds
CEI Does Cancún
From September 10 through September 14, the World Trade Organization will hold its fifth Ministerial meeting in Cancún, Mexico. The Competitive Enterprise Institute will be…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 18
EPA Refuses to Label CO2 a Pollutant Attempts by environmental groups to circumvent congressional authority and achieve their goals through the back door were set…
Op-Eds
Son et Lumière Over French Heat Wave
With over 10,000 deaths ascribed in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />France to the recent European heat wave, the finger-pointing has…
Op-Eds
Greenhouse Hot Air
“Can This Man Save the World?” (Aug. 11, p. 54) first assumes there is a problem associated with greenhouse gas emissions that…
Op-Eds
ABOGADO GIGANTE!
In the October 2000 stretch run for the presidency, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Representatives Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)…
News Release
EPA Decision on CO2 Regulation Cheered
Contact for Interviews: Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 Washington, D.C., August 29, 2003—The Competitive Enterprise Institute cheers the Environmental Protection Agency’s acknowledgement this week that they do…
News Release
CEI Global Warming Lawsuit Draws Ire of Northeast State Attorneys General
Contact for Interviews: <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> Jody Clarke, 202.331.2252 Christopher C. Horner, 202.262.4458…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 17
Politics Blackouts Mean Uncertainty for Energy Bill The massive power outage that affected much of the northeastern…
Op-Eds
Environmentalists for Enron
CERES, the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies, is terribly concerned about corporate governance. Worried by the recent corporate scandals, this coalition of environmental groups and…
Op-Eds
Pots and Kettles
“The Administration's political interference with science has led to misleading statements by the President, inaccurate responses to Congress, altered web sites, suppressed agency…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 16
Politics Return of the Living Dead Energy Bill In an extraordinary turn of events, on July 31, the Senate ceased debate…
News Release
Group Sues to Enforce Sound Science Law
Contact for Interviews: Jody Clarke, 202.331.2252 Washington, D.C., August 6, 2003—The Competitive Enterprise Institute today filed suit in federal court against the White House Office of Science…
News Release
Affordable Energy at Senate Crossroads
Washington, D.C., July 31, 2003— Tomorrow morning the U. S. Senate will hold one of the most important votes this session on the future of…
Op-Eds
Thank You, Pew!
You've got to hand it to the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Pew Center on Global Climate…
News Release
Energy Legislation End Game in Senate
Contact for Interviews: <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 15
Politics Senate Ready to Debate Climate Amendments to Energy Bill Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has scheduled all…
Op-Eds
Recent Research Suggests…
There has been a great deal of ballyhoo this week over the decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to require food products…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 14
Politics Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate Environment The Democratic contenders for the White House focused on health issues at an…
Op-Eds
Tackling Junk Science
Environmental activists and their allies in the media, like The New York Times, are up in arms over the Bush Administration’s latest outbreak of good…
Op-Eds
Junking Junk Science
The term “junk science” has been one of the most powerful tools in ensuring that political and legal decisions are taken based on…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 13
Politics NY Times Accuses White House of Censoring EPA Report In a front-page story on June 19 and an…
Op-Eds
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
The British newspaper The Independent warns us of a serious threat to our aesthetic appreciation of the world. “Global warming may…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 12
Politics Scientists Revive Debate in Canada An open letter published in Canada’s National Post on June 4 urges Paul…
News Release
Attorneys General Sue to Force Unauthorized Regulation of Carbon Dioxide
Contact for Interviews: <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 <?xml:namespace prefix…
News Release
Iain Murray Joins CEI Global Warming Project
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> Contact for Interviews: Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273…
Op-Eds
Common Sense
Recently, the House International Relations Committee approved a “Sense of Congress” resolution, introduced by Rep. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), that embraces the Kyoto Protocol's…
Op-Eds
The Democrats’ History Mystery: Candidates’ Environmental, Diplomacy Rhetoric is Knowingly False
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> The front pages blare, margin-to-margin, “Europe-U.S. Rift Widens,” bemoaning <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns…
News Release
Energy Rationing Coupon
Coupon available in pdf format This transferable coupon may be redeemable for ONE valuable lump of coal or equivalent amount of other…
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April/May edition of CEI’s Monthly Planet
Full Document Available in PDF Article in this edition:…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 11
Politics Energy Bill Prompts Rash of Proposals The Senate energy bill, S. 14, when published in draft form contained a climate change title. Three…
Op-Eds
Who Killed Kyoto?
We've heard it now for so long that it's drummed into our heads. President George W. Bush soured relations with the EU by refusing…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 10
Politics Menendez Amendment Threatens State Department Bill On May 7, the House International Relations Committee approved an amendment to the…
News Release
Conservative Groups Raise Alarm on Climate Resolutions
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” /> Washington, D.C., May 6, 2003—The Competitive Enterprise Institute and 32 other public policy groups are raising…
Study
Comments on the Menendez Climate Amendment from CEI and the Center for Science and Public Policy
Full Document Available…
Op-Eds
Global Warming Bills Could Sneak Through Congress
The scientific case for global warming alarmism grows ever weaker, and President Bush has long since announced he will not submit the Kyoto…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 9
Politics House Committee Will Take Up Sense of Congress Language on Climate The House International Relations Committee is scheduled to take up the State…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 8
Editor’s Note This issue – our 149th – is the last issue for which Paul Georgia serves as managing editor. Next week, he…
News Release
Domenici Makes Right Decision on Climate Title
Contact for Interviews: <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 …
Op-Eds
Energy Bill Draft Capitulates On Global Warming
Little is more insulting these days than an accusation of French sensibilities. Sometimes, however, the chaussure simply fits, and rarely better than in analogy…
Op-Eds
Nix the Energy Bill: Better No Bill than an Anti-Energy Bill
The White House seems to believe that passing an energy bill—any energy bill—will help GOP candidates win in 2004. Because of this, Republicans…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 7
Politics Senate Draft Energy Bill Contains Global Warming Title The majority staff of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee…
Op-Eds
A Backwards Step in U.S. Energy Policy
Which climate-related initiative poses the biggest threat to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />America’s economic future?<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”…
News Release
Senate Energy Bill Contains Costly Climate Mistake
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., March 31, 2003—Americans could face higher energy prices and energy rationing if new Senate…
Op-Eds
Misperceptions At The Gas Pump
Gas prices have surged, as have the demands for the government to do something about it. But only a few of the factors affecting…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 6
Politics Japan Rethinking Kyoto Japan’s industrial sector is beginning to grouse about its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, which…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 5
Politics Court Orders EPA to Hand Over Climate Change Documents The Environmental Protection Agency has been ordered by the…
News Release
Attempt To Force EPA To Regulate CO2 A “Power Grab”
Washington, D.C., March 4, 2003—In a study published today, Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis challenges the arguments of several state…
CEI Planet
February Edition of CEI Monthly Planet
Full Document Available in PDF Articles in this edition:…
Newsletter
Cooler Heads Coalition Briefing With Christopher Essex And Ross McKitrick
The Cooler Heads Coalition Invites you to a Congressional and Media Briefing with Christopher Essex…
News Release
Proposed Fuel Economy Rules Threaten Lives
Washington, D.C., February 26, 2003 – The Competitive Enterprise Institute is filing comments with the National Highway Traffic Safety…
News Release
Court Orders EPA To Turn Over Climate Documents
Washington, D.C., February 24, 2003— The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ruled in favor of the…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 4
Politics Maine Bill Would Prevent Kyoto Implementation In an attempt to thwart Kyoto-style legislation and Kyoto-related activities in Maine,…
News Release
Attorneys General Base EPA Suit Over Carbon Dioxide Regulation On “Disowned” Report
Washington, D.C., February 20, 2003—As seven attorneys general reportedly prepare a lawsuit to coerce EPA to regulate carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act, the…
News Release
Coalition Urges Bush To Drop Greenhouse Gas Plan
Washington, D.C., February 10, 2003—The Competitive Enterprise Institute and 13 other public policy groups are urging President Bush to drop a scheme…
News Release
Boost Your Environmental IQ Online
Washington, D.C., February 7, 2003—The Competitive Enterprise Institute is launching a new online feature, the "e-class" quiz, this week. The quiz, developed by CEI’s…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 3
Politics Attorneys General Threaten Lawsuit Attorneys general from three States-Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine-have notified the Bush administration of their…
Newsletter
Cooler Heads Coalition Briefing With Jesse Ausubel
The Cooler Heads Coalition Invites you to a Congressional and Media Briefing Climate…
News Release
Coalition Letter Urges Bush to Drop Greenhouse Gas Emissions Plan
Washington, D.C., January 27, 2003—The Competitive Enterprise Institute and 13 other public policy groups are urging President Bush to drop a scheme…
Newsletter
VII, No. 2
Politics States Seek to Regulate CO2 The American Legislative Exchange Council has released a report on the activities of state legislatures…
News Release
Success Of New Book Shows: Many Americans Don’t Believe Gloom And Doom Theories
Washington, D.C., January 14, 2003—The Competitive Enterprise Institute is celebrating the success of its latest book on environmental issues,…
Newsletter
Vol. VII, No. 1
Politics Cap-and-Trade-It’s Baaack! Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) plan to introduce a bill that would employ a cap-and-trade…
News Release
Trading Away Prosperity
Washington, D.C., January 6, 2003—This Wednesday, January 8, the Senate Commerce Committee will hold hearings on a proposal that would limit carbon dioxide…
Products
January Edition of CEI Monthly Planet
Full Document Available in PDF Articles in this edition: “The Grim Green…
News Release
Environmental, Other Regulations Under Scrutiny
Washington, D.C., December 20, 2002—From energy conservation standards for washing machines to labels on genetically modified food, many federal regulations are coming…
Newsletter
Vol. VI, No. 25
Politics Canadian House Approves Kyoto On Dec. 10, the Canadian House of Commons voted 195 to 77 to ratify…
News Release
Canadian Parliament Endorses Kyoto Protocol
Washington, D.C., December 11, 2002—The Canadian House of Commons voted its approval of the Kyoto Protocol this week, paving the way for full…
Newsletter
Vol. VI, No. 24
Politics Government Lacks Legal Authority to Award Emissions Credits On February 14, 2002, President Bush directed the Department of…
Products
November/December 2002 Edition of CEI Update
Full Document Available in PDF Articles in this edition: “FDA’s Pediatric Rule…
Newsletter
Vol. VI, No. 23
Politics COP-8 Boosts Adaptation and Poverty Eradication The Eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations’ Framework Convention…
Op-Eds
The Nice Treaty: Not So Nice For The U.S.
Yes means yes and no means maybe – at least that’ so among Europe’s elite. Which is ironic, because the Continental bien pensants would shudder…
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
Jacob Tomasulo
Policy Analyst
- Climate
- Energy
- Energy and Environment
Kevin D. Williamson
Writer in Residence
- Climate
- Energy and Environment