Does History Predict the Future of Climate Science?

Does History Predict the Future of Climate Science?

Author: Cato Institute November 13, 2013 Duration: 41:16

In many fields of science, there is little doubt that the period 1830-1965 was a golden age. There is also little doubt that changes in the support structure for science since the late 60s have powerful unintended consequences that serve to inhibit major developments. Richard Lindzen will discuss these changes from the personal perspective of a climate scientist and place them in the historical perspective of other areas of study.

Specifically, Lindzen will explore how the symbiotic relationship between support for climate science and support for climate policy has been powered by the political process. Has this happened before at the technical-policy interface for other issues in other nations? Are we witnessing the rise of yet another instance of "public policy [becoming] a captive of a scientific-technological elite," as predicted by President Eisenhower in his 1961 farewell address?


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Step inside the Cato Institute's renowned Washington, D.C. events without leaving your desk. The Cato Event Podcast brings the lecture hall and briefing room directly to you, featuring unfiltered audio from live policy forums, author discussions, and Capitol Hill briefings. Each episode captures the substance of these gatherings, where scholars, policymakers, and leading thinkers engage in detailed conversations about liberty, governance, and current affairs. You'll hear substantive debates and thoughtful commentary that cut through the noise of daily headlines, offering deeper analysis on the issues shaping legislation and public discourse. This isn't a produced studio show; it's a front-row seat to the kind of candid exchanges that happen when experts gather to challenge conventional wisdom. The Cato Institute, through this podcast, provides a direct conduit to these discussions, emphasizing a perspective rooted in individual freedom, limited government, and free markets. Tune in for a raw, intellectual experience that goes beyond soundbites, perfect for anyone who wants to understand the foundational ideas behind today's political news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 102

Cato Event Podcast
Podcast Episodes
School Choice Regulation: Friend or Foe? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:26
Since Milton Friedman, school choice proponents have argued that vouchers and other private choice programs would improve student performance, and nearly every “gold-standard” study has found they do – until now. Recent…
Narconomics: How to Run a Drug Cartel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:46
Drug trafficking is one of the most resilient and lucrative industries in the world, with estimated revenues of $300 billion a year. Despite the tens of billions of dollars that governments spend every year trying to dis…
Quantitative Easing: A Requiem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:38
In an effort to combat the Great Recession, the Federal Reserve embarked on an unprecedented program of quantitative easing (QE) — the large-scale purchase of financial assets using freshly created money. The idea was to…
Is the European Union a Friend or Foe of Economic Freedom? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:42
In the past, the European Union was seen as a force for economic liberalization. Brussels broke down many barriers to the free movement of goods, services, people, and capital. As such, the EU was credited with growing p…
From "No Child" to "Every Student": How Big a Change? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:21
The No Child Left Behind Act, with its rules about everything from teacher qualifications to school interventions, has finally been replaced. What took so long? Finally getting the left and right to agree that Washington…
Derivatives: Weapons of Mass Destruction or Tools of Stability? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:24
Derivatives have been called “weapons of mass destruction” and have been accused of not only magnifying but also causing the recent financial crisis. In the wake of the crisis, many called for increased regulation of the…
Cornerstone of Liberty: Property Rights in 21st-Century America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:11
In 1792 James Madison, the principal author of the Constitution, wrote that “Government is instituted to protect property of every sort.” But from the 20th century on the Supreme Court has upheld one inroad after another…
The Promise and Pitfalls of Economic Sanctions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:36
Economic sanctions have become a key component of the U.S. response to any crisis. Indeed, the Obama administration has imposed sanctions on countries as diverse as Russia, Iran, and Egypt, drawing on the strength and gl…
Air Traffic Control: Bipartisan Reform in 2016? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:38
With the Federal Aviation Administration’s authorization expiring in March, aviation experts are urging Congress to overhaul our air traffic control (ATC) system. The system suffers from uncertain funding, is bogged down…