“Greenhouse Policy without Regrets”: When Adler Refuted Climate Activism

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 13, 2023

“No insurance policy is worthwhile if the cost of the premiums exceeds the protection purchased. For greenhouse insurance to be worthwhile, it must either reduce the risks of anthropogenic climate change or reduce the costs of emission reductions designed to achieve the same goal, without imposing off-setting risks, such as those which would result from policies that slow economic growth and technological advance.”

“A true ‘no regrets’ approach to climate change is not greater government controls on economic activity, but fewer. Economic growth, market institutions, and technological advance are often the most effective forms of insurance that a civilization can have.”

– Jonathan Adler (et al.), “Greenhouse Policy without Regrets: A Free Market Approach to the Uncertain Risk of Climate Change,” Competitive Enterprise Institute, July 14, 2000.

Bingo! The Jonathan Adler of the Competitive Enterprise Institute circa 2000 made a case against governmental climate policy activism that is timeless and more true today than 23 years ago.…

The Futile Climate Crusade in One Graph

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 10, 2023

This graph has crossed my computer time and again. Kudos to the creator.

The bottom line of failed mitigation policy is not the work of Big Oil or “disinformers” or “deniers” … it is the reality of the best energies rising to the top of the market despite efforts of politicians to restrict the same.

Credit consumers who naturally choose energy value (affordability, reliability, abundance); like to eat meat and drink dairy; and like such things as charcoaling, cozying up to the fire, and holiday lighting.

May freedom ring–and the plants thrive. …

“Climate Emergency!” says Andrew Dessler (old vinegar in a new bottle)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 9, 2023

“A few days ago, a recent Washington Post article highlighted the growing chorus of scientists who increasingly view climate change as an emergency. I count myself among them. What has shifted my perspective? …” (- Andrew Dessler, last month)

“The worst-case scenarios of climate change are truly terrible, but even middle-of-the-road scenarios portend environmental change without precedent for human society.” (- Andrew Dessler, 2012)

So professor/activist Andrew Dessler now believes we are in a climate emergency? I think not. He has been alarming for many years, if not for decades. Dessler has been exaggerating for so long that he now wants a “it’s-real-this-time” do-over. Buyer beware.

A First Impression

The Andy Dessler I met for lunch on Monday, January 18, 2010, in College Station told the table (Gerald North presiding) that humans would be living underground because of anthropogenic global warming.…