False Alarm

How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet

By: Bjorn Lomborg

Narrated by: Jim Seybert

An “essential” (Times UK) and “meticulously researched” (Forbes) book by “the skeptical environmentalist” argues that panic over climate change is causing more harm than good

Hurricanes batter our coasts. Wildfires rage across the American West. Glaciers collapse in the Arctic. Politicians, activists, and the media espouse a common message: climate change is destroying the planet, and we must take drastic action immediately to stop it. Children panic about their future, and adults wonder if it is even ethical to bring new life into the world.

Enough, argues bestselling author Bjorn Lomborg. Climate change is real, but it’s not the apocalyptic threat that we’ve been told it is. Projections of Earth’s imminent demise are based on bad science and even worse economics. In panic, world leaders have committed to wildly expensive but largely ineffective policies that hamper growth and crowd out more pressing investments in human capital, from immunization to education. In a new epilogue, Lomborg brings the story up to date, showing the ineffective and costly environmental policies of the Biden administration.

False Alarm will convince you that everything you think about climate change is wrong. It points the way toward making the world a vastly better, if slightly warmer, place for us all.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Bjorn Lomborg (P)2020 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Lomborg does not lack solutions. In False Alarm, he advocates a range of cost-benefit tested policies to address both climate change and global poverty.... Lomborg does a service in calling out the environmental alarmism and hysteria that obscure environmental debates rather than illuminate them."—National Review

"The best way to deal with global warming is to increase global prosperity.... The choice we face, Lomborg writes, is between a human future driven by fear and one driven by ingenuity. On that, he is exactly right."—The Bulwark

"Lomborg's most basic premise remains that there are better ways to alleviate human misery than spending taxpayer subsidies than on panic-driven, political non-solutions to a changing climate. Few would argue with that goal."—American Thinker

"Lomborg brands climate change warnings as alarmist, and argues that a massive reduction in fossil fuels would exacerbate global poverty, in this detailed account.... Lomborg is careful to back his cost-benefit analyses of climate policies with surveys and statistics."—Publishers Weekly

"[Lomborg] follows his previous critiques of climate change policy...with a hard-hitting analysis of failing strategies for addressing what he acknowledges is 'a real problem.'...A serious, debatable assessment of a controversial global issue."—Kirkus

Common sense is still right

Common sense to solve our problems is the right way to go. Not fun, not sellable in today crisis media, but the right thing to do.

A lesson in rational thinking

Making the world a better place with rational thought is the best option available. We all need to do out part to ensure the best possible future for all.

Essential knowledge

The author has spent decades studying his subject. He provides an essential voice. In the balanced effort to mitigate harms due to climate change.

Very Informative and Refreshing

Great to bring actual logic to this critical issue but a bit of a tough read.

Great read

Really like this rational, thoughtful, data driven approach. We need less alarmism and more creative thought.

Climate Change Sanity

This is the most balanced and useful analysis of our climate change situation I’ve read to date. The author expertly demonstrates how climate change rhetoric is abused by the press and politicians. At the same time he factually explains the very real concern we need to have about global warming. His call to action and helpful analysis of our opinions is splendid. Everyone on this planet should be reading this book!

The reality of climate change wholistically

This is a book that everyone should read to gain sone perspective on our future. This and the book “Factfulness” written by Hans Rowling are temperate books written based on data and not narrative driven. As an engineer and economist I like to be able to evaluate the choices and not be pushed by only a partial truth founded upon a narrative. Energy is just energy but the world is full of fossil fuel byproducts that there is no answer for. Nice to hear from another climate understander whom the activists will call names. A truly cheap tactic. BTW Greta Thunberg’s crew flew in a large plane to help sail her boat back!!!

Rational Review

A well documented and thought provoking analysis for those interested in considerate review over emotional paranoia. If you are willing to have you opinions challenged; then this a great read. If you know you right and looking for an echo chamber; this probably not the book for you.

Thought provoking

Interesting data and arguments, a great read for anyone interested in policy solutions and thought-provoking ideas on climate, global health, and human wellbeing.

Everyone should read this!

Finally, a rational, explicit, factual examination of the climate problem without denying that it is a problem but also without panicked exaggeration! This topic is so heated, so politically divisive that it seems we will never come to an agreement that will protect the environment and those of us who live within it. THIS, THIS, THIS book contains the answers, the compromise, the science that (ought to) bring all of us together. Regardless of what your personal political view, the science here is undeniable. You will hear things that make you uncomfortable - facts always do - but you will hear far more that gives you optimism! There are valuable things each of us can do, right now, TODAY, without costing a fortune or forcing us to give up our creature comforts. READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!