Lomborg- The Skeptical Environmentalist Part III and IV (pages 91 to 248)
Part III- Can Human Prosperity Continue? (Pages 91 to 160)
- How does the UN Brundtland Report of 1987 define sustainability?
- According to Lomborg's data, the world grows larger quantities of foods like wheat, rice, and cereals. The world's population has been growing too. According to Lomborg has the increase in food production kept up with population growth?
- How much of the Brazilian rainforest was left in 1998? Was the rate of destruction of the rainforest increasing or decreasing?
- At the time of publication, how much has the cost of photovoltaic cells (solar panels) fallen by since 1978?
- Describe the bet that Julian Simon made with Paul Ehrlich. Who won the bet?
- Many people claim that water scarcity will lead to armed conflict. According to research done by Arron Wolf, how many conflicts over water have there been? Were these conflicts violent?
Part IV- Pollution: Does it Undercut Human Prosperity (Pages 163 to 248)
- According to Lomborg, what are the 6 most important forms of air pollution?
- What is the relationship between income per person and a pollutant like particles in the air or sulfur dioxide (S02)?
- What chemical contribute to acid rain. The National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) was established to determine the effects of acid rain on trees and buildings. What did the NAPAP find?
- What generates indoor air pollution in the developing world? What kind of indoor air pollutants are problems in the developed world?
- What is hypoxia and what human activity contributes to hypoxia.
- Using predictions on waste disposal in the United States, Lomborg estimates how big a landfill would need to be to handle all garbage generated in the United States for the 21st century. How big would that landfill be?
- [Opinion] Do you find Lomborg's data and arguments convincing? Do you think that the world is generally improving?