Bjørn Lomborg

It’s human nature to assign blame for catastrophic events. In medieval times, witches were blamed for weather woes. Trials and burnings increased when weather got worse. In hurricane season today, many find a scapegoat in global warming.

Pundits tell us “ignoring the science of climate change will hurt us” (Kristina Ball at NBC) and a Washington Post editorial declares the Trump administration complicit.

It’s a familiar drumbeat, recognizable from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Sandy. For years, Al Gore and others emphasized the need to connect extreme weather to climate change to encourage carbon cuts. Pre-Florence, things reached fever pitch, with even a claim global warming was why the hurricane’s rainfall would be (a suspiciously exact) “50 percent worse.” While Florence caused less damage than expected the drumbeat will be back come the next hurricane. Before then, the record needs correcting.

Read more in my latest for New York Post:

Paris climate agreement at risk
Why? According to AFP: "Money is at the heart of issue."
Rich world promised $100bn every year from 2020
Was never going to happen
Now, poor countries want cash.

Read more: http://ow.ly/zRin30lGRSU

Proper early nutrition can spectacularly change the entire life trajectory of a child. We know from long-term studies that it promotes brain development, making the child do better in school, and much better later in life, affecting everything from the happiness of marriages to the quality of jobs, and up to 60% more earnings.

The government has made significant progress in reducing child malnutrition, but with nearly half of all deaths of children aged under five mainly caused by poor diet, much still needs to be done. Where could new policies make the biggest impact? New research commissioned by India Consensus, a collaboration between Tata Trusts and Copenhagen Consensus, provides answers to help guide policy makers.

Read my in my latest for The Times of India, co-written by Rajan Sankar, Programme Director, Nutrition at Tata Trusts:

Bloomberg graphic for millitary spending.

* Sipri estimate. **Figures for Saudi Arabia are for the adopted budget, rather than actual expenditure. Note: Figures are in USD at 2017 prices and exchange rates. Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Global warming is a problem but we need to get our priorities and policies right. Last week I discussed this and smart polices to tackle global warming on the Young IPA podcast.

Listen to the full interview: http://ow.ly/lwFs30lMZ8g