Carbon dioxide Quote by Bjorn Lomborg
““We should not confuse the rising costs of flooding with flooding itself (or indeed with climate change). It is entirely caused by more houses and more wealth; in fact, the cost compared to the US national income had declined almost tenfold. If we want to reduce this amount even more, the solution isn’t to be found in radically reducing carbon dioxide levels. The solution is to stop building lots of big, expensive houses in flood zones… “Any disaster today will cause more damage because there are more homes, factories, office buildings, and infrastructure to destroy.” -pp. 66, 74””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Skeptical Environmentalist, Bjorn Lomborg, 2001
Economic damage from floods rises mainly because more valuable assets are placed in flood‑prone areas, not because floods are getting worse or climate change alone.
In simple terms: More wealth in flood zones means higher costs when floods happen.
Key Takeaway
Limit building expensive homes in flood‑prone zones.
Themes
environment
economics
urban planning
climate policy
Mood
concerned
analytical
Type
policy
economic
When to use this quote
- city zoning
- real‑estate development
- insurance underwriting
- public policy
- infrastructure investment
Key Concepts
externalities
risk management
cost‑benefit analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How can zoning laws balance growth and flood risk?
- What incentives could shift development away from high‑risk areas?
A Different Perspective
Reducing carbon emissions alone won’t solve flood damage costs without addressing exposure.
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