Lomborg lays it out plain: despite being pitched as the great cheap energy fix, solar and wind depend on the weather. That means pay-up-front costs, massive subsidies, storage headaches, and grid instability. Not exactly the perfect formula.
What’s worse is how governments force-feed these renewables as the answer to climate change without considering the trade-offs: blackouts, higher energy prices, and unreliable supply.
Instead, Lomborg argues for a pragmatic approach: keep natural gas and nuclear firmly on the table. These sources deliver reliable, around-the-clock energy with minimal emissions. That gives us real progress—without crippling reliability or wrecking the economy.
He also drives home a point that few are willing to accept: lifting people out of poverty is one of the most effective climate policies available. Wealthy societies are better equipped to handle environmental threats—and they accidentally create better environmental outcomes. Weird, but true.
So yes, let’s continue investing in renewables—smartly and cautiously. But don’t pretend they’re a panacea. If we want sane climate policy, we have to be honest: not everything green is good, and alternative energy isn’t free.
