Critique
The DCSD case - documentation
The press release from Bjorn, Dec 2003
Strong criticism of DCSD ruling
Today, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation published its assessment of the DCSD's (Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty) ruling on Bjørn Lomborg's book "The Skeptical Environmentalist". The assessment contains strong criticism of the DCSD ruling. On 6 January 2003, the DCSD ruled that Mr Lomborg's book was "objectively" dishonest and "clearly contrary to the standards of good scientific practice".
The DCSD ruling is flunked by the Ministry's lawyers. Most importantly, the Ministry emphasises that the DCSD ruling is "not documented" and "completely void of argumentation" for the claims of dishonesty and lack of good scientific practice. The Ministry characterises the DCSD's treatment of the case as "dissatisfactory", "open to criticism" and "emotional" and points out a number of significant errors in the DCSD's treatment of Mr Lomborg's case.
"It has been almost two years since the beginning of the DCSD case against my book. It has been hard, but I am happy that we now have confirmation that there is freedom of speech - even in the environmental debate. Let us now concentrate our efforts on what is important, namely how to prioritise best our efforts for the environment", says Bjørn Lomborg.
"The DCSD ruling could not stand closer scrutiny. Already when the ruling came in January, it was clear that it had no substance. This was pointed out by commentators from leading Danish newspapers, and almost 300 scientists signed a protest against the ruling."
"Unfortunately, the DCSD ruling came at an opportune time for many people, who wanted to criticize my work and that of the EAI. The case was infected from the beginning. The complaints about my book were not based on science, but rather on a wish to stop my appointment as the Director of the EAI."
"The DCSD case has had great significance for the working environment at the EAI. With the scathing assessment of the DCSD ruling, it has now been established that if someone wants to criticise the Institute or my book - and anyone is welcome to do so - mudslinging is not enough. You have to use solid arguments."
Appendices to this press release:
- Overview of the Ministry's criticism
- Overview of the course of the DCSD case against Bjørn Lomborg's book
Full press release with appendices
GOOD SCIENTIFIC PRACTICE AND THE LOMBORG AFFAIR IN DENMARK
(from www.stichting-han.nl which is no longer available)
A CRITICAL CONSIDERATION OF THE VERDICT OF THE DANISH COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFIC DISHONESTY ON THE BOOK BY BJORN LOMBORG ‘THE SKEPTICAL ENVIRONMENTALIST'
(from www.stichting-han.nl which is no longer available)
Article in the Financial Times
Article in The Economist
Godhedens pris: The web-book answering the critics (in Danish)
Short reply answering the critics (in English)
Questions and answers from the Ministry (in Danish)
