Review of Cool It (2010) by Dale Y — 22 Nov 2010

Surprising as much for what it focused on as what it ignored:

. Lomborg says statistics show enviro-situation as better than catastrophizers and media present (what a relief for all of us with apocalypse fatigue!).

. however, Lomborg focuses on technological fixes, which got us into this mess in the first place, not on working with cycles and processes of nature (except algae fuel), and he (intentionally?) ignores dramatic resource efficiency & carbon reduction advances achieved since 1970s by Rocky Mountain and Wuppertal Institutes, Amory Lovins, McDonnough and Braungart (Cradle to Cradle), Natural Step, ISO 14001, Carbon Disclosure Project, etc., and doesn't include their work as part of his techno- and other fix palette, . presented higher annual world-fixing budget - $250 billion, than Lester Brown's $187 billion budget (Plan B 4.0, Worldwatch Institute), covering fewer initiatives-- was the snub intentional? . ignored human nature -- theocratic and dictatorial regimes, polarized international factions, and U.S. politics hampering progress; . gratuitously and oddly placed white guy feeding little black children in Kenya, without noting the kids may never be able to afford to return the favor for white people in Denmark, . agreed with Al Gore that climate change is afoot, found "Inconvenient Truth" exaggerations and errors, but proposed mostly same means to address them, didn't offer radically different ideas, . forgot to ask Mhyrvold (Intellectual Ventures) what kind of nuclear plant -- thorium? and what possibilities and consequences attend nuclear power, firstly, who's going to fund new nukes now? . rather, advocated imposing technical fixes without even hinting at possible unintended consequences, . no specifics on Simon's economics assertions that started Lomborg on this journey. Wha--?In sum: interesting perspective, nice optimism, gives perspective on "Inconvenient Truth," not much new. Lots of missed opportunities.