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
Blog
Europe’s heat wave tragically demonstrates the need for air conditioning
Western European nations take a very different approach from the United States on many issues — immigration, defense, welfare, energy, health care, and more.
Blog
RCP8.5: Climate establishment officially retires extreme scenario (Part II)
Part I can be found here. Victim of its own success? Perhaps to save face or even boast of being right…
Blog
RCP8.5: Climate establishment officially retires extreme scenario (Part I)
Thanks to the scholarship, courage, and perseverance of a handful of independent researchers, notably Roger Pielke, Jr., Justin Ritchie, and Hadi…
Search Posts
Op-Eds
Capturing Carbon Pipe Dreams
If you enjoy the benefits of affordable and readily available electricity, a new report from the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) may spur you…
News Release
Cap-and-Trade Scheme Would Deepen Economic Downturn
Contact: <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Christine Hall, 202.331.2258 As evidence mounts that the U.S. economy…
Op-Eds
Ethanol mandate would harm CO economy
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Colorado, beware: An army of well connected lobbyists has persuaded Congress to adopt an ethanol policy that's…
Op-Eds
Romney Had a Hammer
Mitt Romney’s surprisingly decisive victory in Michigan kept him in the race for the Republican nomination, but he wasn’t the only one Tuesday night…
Op-Eds
Downside to Ethanol
USA TODAY’s story on cellulosic ethanol reports only the potential benefits and doesn’t mention the huge burdens it will have to overcome ("General Motors…
Op-Eds
Manmade Antarctic Melting, Indeed
A new study, much hyped by the media, blames humans for escalating ice loss in Antarctica. The media, however, seems to have no idea…
Op-Eds
The Conspiracy to Deny the Poor Mobility – and Opportunity
Mobility is prosperity—a fact that humans have recognized since the dawn of civilization, when population centers arose next to navigable waterways. Yet this simple…
News Release
House Hearing Should Look at the Facts on Polar Bears
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., January 17, 2008—The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will hear…
Op-Eds
Top 10 Climate Myth-Busters for 2007
"I’ve made up my mind. Don’t confuse me with the facts." That saying most appropriately sums up the year in climate science for the…
Op-Eds
Somewhere, Mr. Edison Gently Weeps
A New Yorker cartoon from several years ago shows a vast, cubicle-filled office, with a manager explaining that the "dim fluorescent lighting is meant to…
News Release
Man Bites Dog – CEI Congratulates EPA On Decision to Deny California Global Warming Scheme
Washington, D.C., December 20, 2007—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday blocked a California law curtailing carbon dioxide emissions from motor vehicles, a decision drawing…
News Release
President Signs Anti-Energy Bill
Washington, D.C., December 19, 2007—Today President Bush signed a major new energy bill that will drive up costs to taxpayers and consumers and increase…
Letters
Letter to President Bush on CO2 Endangerment Proceeding
Full Document Available in PDF The Honorable George W. Bush…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. CONGRESS The Senate passes major energy legislation, including ethanol mandates and stricter fuel economy standards. CEI…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. TECHNOLOGY Antitrust regulators take additional time to review the proposed purchase by Google of Internet advertising firm…
Op-Eds
Will Al Gore Make Peace With Reality?
Accepting his share of the Nobel Peace prize this week, Al Gore said that “. . . we have begun to wage war on…
Products
CEI Planet: November – December 2007
Full Document Available in PDF The Tiger at a…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. TECHNOLOGY Regulators in the UK lift the ban on a video game initially forbidden for graphic content.
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. CULTURE A “media watchdog group” calls for stricter regulation of video game violence. CEI Expert Available…
Op-Eds
The Land of Unkept Climate Commitments
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says that California "leads the world" on climate change. He’s right, but not the way he thinks. In fact, the…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT Delegates to the United Nations’ global warming summit in Bali generate as much carbon dioxide as…
Op-Eds
The Greenest Hypocrites of 2007
Green has traditionally been the color of the deadly sin of envy. But this year, a trendy upstart mounted a serious challenge to envy’s…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. CULTURE Bars and restaurants across the country celebrate the anniversary of the end of Prohibition with…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> 1. BUSINESS Sen. Hillary Clinton…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT Shrinking deaths from weather disasters contradict predictions of extreme global warming. CEI Expert Available to…
Op-Eds
Uncle Sam’s CAFE Panacea: Killing Drivers, Increasing Costs
With the Bush administration’s support, Congress is pushing to increase fuel economy standards for American autos. The measure is supposed to save energy…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT New technologies may be causing scientists to over count the number of hurricanes and tropical storms.
Op-Eds
It’s the Sun, Stupid
When the international global warming alarm-ocracy gathers for its annual convention on the balmy island of Bali next week, is there any chance that…
News Release
UN Prepares for Global Warming Talks in Bali
Washington, D.C., November 28, 2007—Diplomats from dozens of countries are preparing this week for global warming negotiations in Bali, Indonesia, where delegates will discuss plans…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. HEALTH New drug approvals by the Food and Drug Administration decline dramatically. CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Scholar…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT British non-profit group Oxfam claims natural disasters around the world have quadrupled due to global warming. CEI Expert…
Op-Eds
U.N. Climate Distractions
The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) just issued the final installment of its year-long scare-the-pants-off-the public assessment…
Op-Eds
Living up to green ‘standards’
In his HGTV show “Living with Ed,” actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. shows his viewers how to live green. Begley certainly more…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT A United Nations report warns of increasing acid levels in the world’s oceans realted to global warming. CEI…
Op-Eds
Global Warming’s Bottom Line
Sen. Hillary Clinton last week proposed that publicly-owned companies should be required to disclose to shareholders the financial impacts of global warming. Financial…
Op-Eds
Global Warming’s Senseless Consensus
Is there a “consensus” on global warming among the scientists participating in the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)? To find out,…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. BUSINESS Congress considers legislation to “solve” the shake-up in subprime mortgages. CEI Expert Available to Comment:…
News Release
Senate Holds Hearing on Irrelevant Climate Plan
Washington, D.C., November 8, 2007—This morning the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will meet to hear testimony on legislation that would severely restrict…
Op-Eds
Federal Ethanol Mandates Will Plow Us All Under
Holman W. Jenkins Jr.'s column “Cheap Shot at Toyota,” (editorial page, Oct. 24) rightly points out the significant negative consequences of the ethanol “cornrush”…
News Release
Lene Johansen Named CEI Journalism Fellow
Washington D.C., November 5, 2007—The Competitive Enterprise Institute is proud to welcome Lene Johansen as its newest Warren T. Brookes Journalism Fellow. While…
News Release
Commerce Department Study Finds “Unprecedented” Arctic Melting
Washington, D.C., November 2, 2007—The story is ominous, chronicling the melting of glaciers, the disappearance of Arctic sea ice, and the eradication of…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. CONGRESS The chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee expresses doubts about the 2007 Farm Bill. CEI…
News Release
House Committees Focus on Global Warming
Washington, D.C., November 1, 2007—Today the U.S. House of Representatives addresses global warming from two different angles, with hearings in both the Budget Committee…
News Release
Senate Looks at Financial Risks from Climate Change
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., October 31, 2007—This afternoon members of the Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing…
News Release
House Committee Focuses on Renewable Energy
Washington, D.C., October 30, 2007—This afternoon a subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee will hear testimony on "renewable energy and the global environment."…
Op-Eds
Kyoto-Style Bill Rushing Quietly Through Senate
Just last week conservatives cheered obvious progress in derailing the bipartisan push to quietly adopt the sovereignty-eroding Law of the Sea Treaty or “LOST”…
Op-Eds
Self-Interest: Inconvenient Truth of Climate Change
Al Gore has called on humans to address climate change “as a species.” Inconveniently for Gore, however, Homo sapiens are parsed into nation-states that have…
Op-Eds
Hogging All the Corn
This fall, Congress will consider an aggressive ethanol production mandate that spells bad news for pork producers in the Tar Heel State. …
Op-Eds
California Fire Smokescreen
Are climate alarmists using the Southern California wildfires to fan the flames of global warming? Are environmentalists and government bureaucrats using global warming…
News Release
Committee Examines Energy Rationing Bill
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., October 24, 2007—This afternoon the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a…
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