The exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives has significantly declined in recent times. Unconventional thinking is often disregarded or criticized, even when traditional approaches fail to address the complex issues of the modern world. It is crucial to encourage critical thinking and constructive discussions. To achieve this, we have established the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC), an international coalition consisting of politicians, business leaders, public intellectuals, and cultural commentators. ARC aims to amplify a wider range of perspectives on a global scale.
One example that highlights the importance of diverse perspectives is the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. An excessive focus on lockdown measures led to the labeling of dissenting opinions as “COVID deniers.” Governments that implemented the strictest policies received praise from public intellectuals and media outlets, disregarding the negative consequences such as economic decline, mental health issues, limited access to healthcare, and increased domestic violence. School closures alone resulted in a significant loss of education for children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Research indicates that these educational setbacks could have long-term economic implications, costing around $17 trillion in lifetime earnings for affected individuals.
Similarly, the alarmist approach to climate change often ignores important facts. While there is an emphasis on climate-related disasters, such as floods and storms, it is crucial to acknowledge that poverty reduction and increased resilience have actually reduced the number of fatalities caused by these events by 97% over the past century. Contrary to common belief, cold weather is responsible for nine times more deaths globally than heatwaves. Moreover, higher temperatures have led to a decrease in temperature-related deaths overall. It is imperative to have an honest discussion about the costs and benefits of proposed solutions instead of succumbing to fear-mongering and ignoring inconvenient truths. Net-zero policies, for instance, are often endorsed without a thorough examination of their immense costs compared to the limited benefits they offer.
In addition to these issues, we must also address the challenges faced by the four billion people residing in impoverished regions. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals promise solutions to a wide range of problems but fail to prioritize effectively. Instead of attempting to tackle every issue simultaneously, we should focus on implementing efficient and cost-effective strategies in priority areas. For instance, increasing educational opportunities, improving healthcare for mothers and newborns, combating malaria, enhancing government procurement processes, ensuring proper nutrition, securing land tenure, promoting trade, facilitating skilled migration, and raising child immunization rates are actionable policies that can save millions of lives annually and generate significant economic benefits.
It is crucial that we move away from panic-induced fear and engage in a more nuanced global conversation that focuses on the most important and achievable goals. By doing so, we can pave the way for a more abundant, opportune, sustainable, and optimistic future.
Dr. Bjorn Lomborg is the president of the Copenhagen Consensus and a visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. His latest book is titled “Best Things First.” Dr. Jordan B. Peterson is a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto and the author of books such as “Maps of Meaning,” “12 Rules for Life,” and “Beyond Order.”
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