03/02/2007 4:16:40 pm
Climate Change. No, I am not referring to the drop in outside temperature of some 30 degrees that I experienced after 13 hours in a plane from Brazil to Sweden. Of course I refer to the IPCC report about global temperature possibly increasing by 2-4 degrees in 100 years that was presented yesterday.

Hysteria is all over us. The "Climate Threat" is supposed to be here. It is something that appeals both to people′s demand for doomsday scenarios and idea of the original sin - people are actually the main problem of the planet. Media emphasises the threat part and point directly to the politicians to "do something".

Of course this will lead to politicians doing "something". And what they normally do is restrict freedom by regulations, taxes and other state intenventions in society. Regardless of whether it works or not, they will say that at least they did "something". And when people are considered the problem, it is even more legitimate to restrict our freedom.

A climate change might be going on. There are serious academic errors that have been pointed out in these studies, but I believe that there might be a change. I also believe that man has something to do with it, though, the main thing is likely to be a normal change. Climate does normally change, for a variety of reasons.

But, having acknowledged the possible change, it is not automatically a threat or something that demands "something" from politicians. The change may bring numerous benefits to cold places of the planet. And where there will be challenges concering floods or heat, there will be entrepreneurs to solve it. If the economy is free, that is.