Skip to main content
Log in

The Skeptical Environmentalist: A Sociocultural Perspective

  • Discussion
  • Published:
Global Change and Human Health

Abstract

Bjorn Lomborg's critique of environmentalism has been praised by The Economist as ‘right’ on its main points and ‘just’ in its criticism of much green activism, and damned by Scientific American as a ‘failure’ in its purpose of describing the state of the world. Most of the debate has centred on Lomborg's treatment of environmental issues. But the book is about more than the environment, and its flaws extend beyond his use and interpretation of the data.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Lomborg, B. The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Rennie, J. Skepticism is no substitute for science. Scientifi c American, January 2002, p. 31.

  3. Union of Concerned Scientists, UCS examines The Skeptical Environmentalist. www.ucsusa.org/environment/lomborg.html, 2001 (last accessed 5 March 2002).

  4. Anonymous. Defending science (leader), The Economist, 2 February 2002, pp. 15-16.

  5. Boyden, S. Western Civilisation in Biological Perspective: Patterns in Biohistory. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1987, p. 79.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Eckersley, R. The state and fate of nations: implications of subjective measures of personal and social quality of life. Social Indicators Research 2000; 52 (1): 3-27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Eckersley, R. The mixed blessings of material progress: diminishing returns in the pursuit of happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies 2000; 1 (3): 267-292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Eckersley, R. Culture, health and wellbeing, in Eckersley, R., Dixon, J. & Doug-las, B. (Eds), The Social Origins of Health and Wellbeing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001, pp. 51-70.

    Google Scholar 

  9. McMichael, A. J. Human Frontiers, Environments and Disease: Past Patterns, Uncertain Futures. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001, pp. 197-201, 335-338.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kasser, T. The High Price of Materialism. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Worldwatch Institute. The State of the World 2002. Press Release, 10 January 2002 (issued on email news service, 11 January 2002). www.worldwatch.org.

  12. Eckersley, R. (Ed), Measuring Progress: Is life getting better? Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  13. OECD. The Wellbeing of Nations: The Role of Human and Social Capital. Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, Paris: OECD, 2001, pp.10-12.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lacey R., Danziger D. The Year 1000. London: Abacus, 1999, p. 201.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eckersley, R. The Skeptical Environmentalist: A Sociocultural Perspective. Global Change & Human Health 3, 55–57 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019673215867

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019673215867

Navigation