Bjørn Lomborg

Named in Foreign Policy’s ‘Top 100 Public Intellectuals’ and Time Magazine’s ‘World’s 100 Most Influential People’, Bjørn Lomborg is dedicated to finding new and innovative ways for humankind to address their environmental impact. Determined to prove that seemingly unavoidable problems throughout the world can be managed effectively, he is the author of numerous acclaimed books and an advisor to top economists. Lomborg’s think-tank, the Copenhagen Consensus Center, is globally respected for its work examining the use of aid and development funds.

• Director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center
• Adjunct Professor at Copenhagen Business School
• Author of books including ‘How much have Global Problems Cost the World’ – A Scorecard from 1900 to 2050

Like anyone with a genuine passion, Lomborg is able to captivate his audience as well as to inform them. His level of knowledge is evident and he is not afraid to voice some of his more controversial views and explain his reasoning.

Exploring ways in which to solve environmental, aid and development crises the world over, Bjørn Lomborg has become one of the top thinkers of his kind. Not afraid to court controversy, his innovative exploration of problem solving methods for now and the future have seen him work with top economists and organisations. An adjunct professor at Copenhagen Business School, he shares his motivation and inspiration with the next generation of thinkers and is also a founding member and director of the Copenhagen Consensus Centre, a think-tank devoted to investigating some of the global challenges facing humankind.

Climate change is the area in which Lomborg’s opinions have attracted the most interest. He has argued that global policy for the prevention of man-made climate change is costly, likely to be ineffective and that the money used would be better spent elsewhere. He also stated that much of the data concerning climate change and overpopulation did not seem to be supported by accurate statistical analysis. This viewpoint angered many environmental groups and some others in the scientific community and Lomborg was even accused of scientific dishonesty.

Undeterred, Lomborg fought his corner and his name was eventually cleared. In 2010, a documentary featuring Lomborg and his theories was screened in the USA. Called Cool It, the documentary addressed how to convey a realistic view of environmental issues.

An in depth knowledge concerning environmental challenges and an unconventional approach to related topics have seen Lomborg write a number of successful books. He also writes a monthly newsletter which reaches 30 million readers globally.  During his career he has provided articles and interviews to prestigious papers including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Guardian. Lomborg has made numerous television appearances for the BBC, CNN, Fox and many others, appearing in programmes such as Newsnight, 60 Minutes and The Late Show with David Letterman.

Lomborg achieved an M.A in Political Science in 1991, before continuing his studies into the subject at a post-graduate level, obtaining his doctorate from the University of Copenhagen in 1994.

Positions and honours

• Included in 50 People Who Could Save the Planet – The Guardian (2008)
• Included in 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century Esquire (2008)
• Included in Top 100 Public Intellectuals – Foreign Policy & Prospect Magazine (2008)
• Director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center (2006 – )
• Included in Worlds 100 Most Influential People – Time Magazine (2004)
• Copenhagen Consensus Center included in Top 25 Environmental Think Tanks – University of Pennsylvania