ABSTRACT
On the topic of pollution, Lomborg examines air pollution, acid rain and forest death, indoor air pollution, water pollution and waste and concludes that the pollution burden has diminished. This progress, he believes, is linked to wealth; hence, as developing economies grow, they will also have the ability to reduce their pollution. ‘We often assume air pollution is a new phenomenon that has got worse and worse – in truth it is an old phenomenon, that has been getting better and better.’ In looking at tomorrow’s problems, including chemicals, biodiversity and global warming, Lomborg concludes that the fear of chemicals and reduction of species is exaggerated, and that the colossal sums governments are planning to deploy on reducing global warming will be money poorly spent. Lomborg does not deny that climate change is taking place. However, he feels there is too much emphasis on it in comparison with other issues and that ‘the cure is worse than the ailment’.
