Climate-industrial complex

The term climate-industrial complex was popularised by the climate change skeptic, Bjorn Lomborg, in a May 2009 opinion column in the Wall Street Journal. In his column, Lomborg referred to President Dwight Eisenhower's reference to the "military-industrial complex" and his warning of the risk of "the potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

"This is certainly true of climate change. We are told that very expensive carbon regulations are the only way to respond to global warming, despite ample evidence that this approach does not pass a basic cost-benefit test. We must ask whether a "climate-industrial complex" is emerging, pressing taxpayers to fork over money to please those who stand to gain," Lomborg wrote.

"The partnership among self-interested businesses, grandstanding politicians and alarmist campaigners truly is an unholy alliance. The climate-industrial complex does not promote discussion on how to overcome this challenge in a way that will be best for everybody. We should not be surprised or impressed that those who stand to make a profit are among the loudest calling for politicians to act. Spending a fortune on global carbon regulations will benefit a few, but dearly cost everybody else," he claimed.

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