Climate Activism versus Classical Liberalism at 35 – Econlib

Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Change

Introduction

Thirty-five years ago, on June 24, 1988, the New York Times published an article titled “Global Warming Has Begun, Expert Tells Senate.” This announcement marked the beginning of the climate change debate. The article highlighted the testimony of NASA scientist James Hansen, who confidently stated that the current warming trend caused by increased carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from fossil fuels was here to stay. The article also predicted the potential consequences of global warming, including rising sea levels and melting glaciers.

Today, the alarm raised by the New York Times seems exaggerated. The recorded increase in global temperature and sea levels has been much lower than predicted. The climate debate has been marred by unreliable climate models and a biased view of nature versus man. Despite uncertainties and contrary evidence, climate policies have become widespread, with governments implementing command-and-control measures and domestic CO₂ pricing to prevent business relocation.

William Niskanen’s Perspective

In 1997, political economist William A. Niskanen published an essay criticizing the regulation of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases through a global treaty. He questioned the accuracy of statements supporting the treaty and argued that broad regulatory action was premature without sufficient knowledge about costs, benefits, and alternatives. Niskanen’s skepticism about the rush to policy was supported by Jerry Taylor of the Cato Institute, who emphasized the need for more research before making major changes to address climate change.

Steven Horwitz’s Perspective

Austrian-school economist Steven G. Horwitz provided a list of essential questions to make a case for government intervention in climate change. These questions covered physical science as well as economic and social aspects. Horwitz emphasized the importance of considering the costs and benefits of policies designed to reduce the effects of global warming. He argued that a rush to policy without considering the potential negative consequences could be detrimental.

The Debate Today

The insights from Niskanen and Horwitz continue to shape the climate change debate. The physical science of global warming has been challenged by evidence of “luke-warming” and less alarming weather extremes. Controlled experiments have also shown the benefits of carbon dioxide enrichment for agriculture and the environment. The costs of government-forced energy transformation have resulted in energy poverty, economic decline, and environmental issues. In contrast, consumer-preferred fossil fuels have proven their worth under a human betterment standard.

James Hansen in Retrospect

James Hansen, one of the pioneers of climate alarm, has expressed doubts about high-warming scenarios and the effectiveness of renewable energy in replacing fossil fuels. His statements align with the perspectives of classical liberals who question the policies often proposed to combat climate change.

Conclusion

The climate change debate continues, with classical-liberal insights providing valuable perspectives. The debate highlights the challenges of defining the problem and regulating it through government intervention. It also raises concerns about corporate rent-seeking and the potential negative consequences of policies designed to combat climate change. The knowledge problem and the fatal conceit of climate planners are important considerations in shaping effective and sustainable climate policies.

Footnotes

1. “Global Warming Has Begun, Expert Tells Senate.” Philip Shabecoff, Special To the New York Times, June 24, 1988.
2. William Niskanen, “Too Much, Too Soon: Is a Global Warming Treaty a Rush to Judgment?” Jobs & Capital, Fall 1997, pp. 14–19.
3. William Niskanen, “Too Much, Too Soon: Is a Global Warming Treaty a Rush to Judgment?” Reflections of a Political Economist (Washington, D.C: Cato Institute, 2008), p. 29.
4. Jerry Taylor, “Clouds over Kyoto: The Debate over Global Warming,” Regulation (Winter 1998).
5. William Niskanen, “Too Much, Too Soon,” p. 29.
6. Steven Horwitz, “Global Warming Is About Social Science Too.” The Foundation for Economic Education, February 23, 2012.
7. Martin Weitzman, “On Modeling and Interpreting the Economics of Catastrophic Climate Change.” Review of Economics and Statistics, 91[1], 2009.
8. Robert P. Murphy, “The Tables Have Turned on ‘Uncertainty’ and Climate Change Policy.” Insitute for Energy Research, October 16, 2019.
9. James Hansen, Makiko Sato, Andrew Lacis, and Elaine Mathews, “Climate forcings in the Industrial Era.” PNAS, October 27, 1998.

* Robert L. Bradley Jr. is CEO of the Institute for Energy Research (IER).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.
• SDG 15.1: Ensure conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These include:

• Share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• Investment in sustainable infrastructure
• Number of climate-related hazards and their impacts
• Conservation and restoration efforts for terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: econlib.org

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