Editor’s Note: This book review was published just short of 20 years ago in The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics [Vol. 8, No. 3 (FALL 2005): 93–95] by Pierre Desrochers of the University of Toronto.

“Austrian economists have so far contributed very little to energy studies…. This book could therefore go a long way in providing a new set of concrete economic examples and principles for use in classroom discussions.”

Despite its obvious economic and social importance, energy (broadly understood) is an understudied field. True, among academics, one can find several engineers and geologists, along with some economists, geographers, legal scholars, and political scientists, who devote much of their research efforts to devising and/or analyzing various energy-related technologies, supply sources, markets, and institutions.

By and large, however, very few individuals have tried to understand how all the various parts of the energy puzzle fit—or not—together, and much—if not most—of the public discussion of the issue is agenda-driven and ignorant of basic physical and economic principles.…

In Memoriam, Thomas Roger DeGregori (1935–2025)

Pierre Desrochers

Tom DeGregori, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Houston whose work has been discussed on a few occasions on this blog, passed away a few days ago. Thousands of people knew him better than me (we only met twice), but he became an occasional correspondent nearly three decades ago after I had serendipitously come across his work on technological change on the bookshelves of the Université de Montréal while researching my doctoral dissertation.

I was hooked and tried to get my hands on anything he had published in defense of human creativity and material progress, including modern agriculture. At first my readings were limited to his articles in the Journal of Economic Issues and other academic outlets then available at my alma mater.…

On social media, Christopher Nguyen gave praises for the retreat (surrender?) of Just Stop Oil, a development reported last week at MasterResource. He should know, being a UKer (Scotland).

He wrote:

No more roadblocks, no more anti-art actions, no more helping UN’s Net Zero “inspired” politicians legislate or promote:
🚫🚗Clean Air Zones, (Ultra) Low Emission Zones (Anti-motorist Zones), 15 minute cities, 20 minute neighbourhoods,
🚫🥩🍼meat and dairy exclusionary contracts,
🚫✈️flight shaming,
🚫🧥shaming buying clothes,
🚫🐮🐶carbon taxes.

Praise God. Let us rejoice!
___________________________________
One leg down. More to come down.
Do you comply with the Net Zero Carbon consumption targets?
🚫🍼Absolute Zero dairy
🚫🥩Absolute Zero meat
🚫👗3 items of clothing per year
🚫✈️1 return flight per 3 years
🚫🚗Absolute Zero private vehicles

Source:The Future of Urban Consumption in a 1.5°C World, 2019, c40 cities, p.78, 82, 86, 90 https://lnkd.in/ejhTfy8N…

“Lisa Sachs repeated refusal to address intellectual diversity and the need for balanced debate on open climate questions speak for themselves. It is climate propaganda at Columbia U.”

Yesterday’s post focused on Lisa Sachs, Director of Columbia Climate School’s Masters in Climate Finance. What is the course, and what is missing from a scholarly viewpoint? First, the parent’s Mission Statement:

The Columbia Climate School’s mission is to further knowledge and educate leaders to achieve equitable and just solutions to the changing climate and related sustainability challenges.

Education: The Columbia Climate School educates future climate leaders to address the urgent challenges facing our planet with graduate degree programs and offers other powerful learning opportunities for students, educators, and professionals.

Research: The Columbia Climate School nurtures and supports innovative research in the science, consequences, and human dimensions of climate change, including the methods of achieving a more sustainable and just world.