Energy is not the enemy but the foundation of modern prosperity and resilience. Energy abundance, particularly from fossil fuels and other reliable sources, has been the cornerstone of economic growth, poverty reduction, and improved resilience against climate impacts throughout human history.
Contrary to Western alarmist narratives about climate catastrophe, climate change, while a challenge, is not an existential threat. Historical data illustrates dramatic declines in deaths from natural disasters and a reduction in global burned areas despite increasing global temperatures.
Energy availability directly correlates with wealth, productivity, and well-being—factors that have lifted billions out of poverty and improved global living standards.
At the ARC conference in London 2026, Bjørn Lomborg, the president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center and author of the famous book The Skeptical Environmentalist, explained a data-driven view of how fears and assumptions around the highly politicized term “climate change” have produced anxiety driven decisions that are terrible for economic growth in the West and greatly deterioriate our quality of life.
Blanket fears about climate change and energy consumption obscure important facts: humanity has made tremendous progress through energy-intensive development, which is critical to maintaining and improving living standards and climate adaptation.
The Skeptical Environmentalist argued that the recent ideology that the environment is getting worse and worse is not correct. Lomberg, who used to be a member of Greenpeace, says that many environmental organizations do not make selective and misleading use of the scientific evidence.
Using the best statistical information from well-known research institutes around the world, Lomborg looked closely at several major environmental problems that are often in the news, and found that there are more reasons to be hopeful than worried.
For example, contrary to the alarmist media, global burned areas have declined by 25% over 25 years. Deaths from climate-related disasters have decreased 500-fold in 150 years, Lomberg explains.
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Deaths from floods, droughts, storms, and wildfires have plummeted from millions annually in the 19th century to fewer than 10,000 today. Polar bear populations have doubled due to improved conservation, countering iconic but misleading images of species collapse.
Historically, human societies were limited by organic energy (muscle, wood, water). The adoption of fossil fuels released vast stored solar energy, fuelling an economic boom that lifted fewer than 8% of people now live in poverty versus over 80% in pre-industrial times. Mechanical energy per capita in rich countries is equivalent to hundreds of “silent servants,” vastly surpassing historical energy availability and enabling modern lifestyles, Lomberg points out in The Skeptical Environmentalist.
Only four percent of world energy is currently provided by so-called Green energy, solar and windmills, according to BP Statistical Review. 96 percent of world energy is provided by oil, gas, coal.
The leading Wall Street investors know that the world does not have any comparable source of energy than coal, oil and gas. Water, solar and wind is not, at its current stage of development, on any level able to compare in power intensity or solve the world’s energy needs. Bill Gates recently also pointed this out.
The climate change business is a trillion dollar industry now. The Heritage Foundation states that in 2012 alone, the leftwing Climate Policy Initiative study “Global investment in climate change” found that $359 billion was invested in eco-projects that year alone.
The climate change business is a trillion dollar industry now. The Heritage Foundation states that in 2012 alone, the left wing Climate Policy Initiative study “Global investment in climate change” found that $359 billion was invested in eco-projects that year alone. Here is the catch: George Soros’ investments in oil, gas and coal far overshadow his investment in eco-groups. He is not the only left wing billionaire donating to end oil, and at the same time investing heavily in oil and gas.
By controlling the fossil fuel sector through the Wall Street divestment in oil strategy, an energy shortage is created in the world. Once the shortage sets in, the very same investors will profit by the billions. The Green movement has far wealthier sponsors than the local Swedish businessmen behind Greta Thunberg, Ingmar Renzhog and Fossil Free leader, Bo Thorén.
Lomborg points out that the prevailing climate panic and energy austerity mindset, especially in Western Europe, have caused deliberate energy cutbacks that have resulted in declining industries, higher prices and lower living standard for the regular citizens.
It is a massive paradox that Europe’s political elites aim at zero emissions while knowing that energy abundance has always correlated with wealth and poverty reduction worldwide. In particular, it has been fossil fuels that have powered the transition from stagnant economies to global prosperity.
The high costs of climate policies, especially those aimed at net zero emissions, are highlighted as major economic burdens. Renewable energies like solar and wind, while touted as low-cost, actually drive up electricity costs in countries that rely heavily on them, making energy less affordable for consumers.
Although solar and wind are often lauded as cheapest electricity sources, their nature makes them expensive to support reliably. Data across 70 countries indicate that higher shares of wind and solar correlate with increased total electricity costs, burdening consumers and industries, particularly in Europe where costs have tripled in some cases.
The essential message is a call to embrace energy abundance through smarter approaches: investing in low-carbon research, innovation, and resilience-building rather than austerity or panic-driven policies.
Lomberg also points out that per capita growth rates have fallen from about 4% in the 1960s to just over 1% today. Climate policies aiming for net zero emissions are forecasted to cost trillions annually, particularly in the EU, threatening government budgets and economic stability. These costs risk constraining energy use and innovation further.
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