A serious case of collective bewilderment
Hans Labohm.
Out of the box (2022)
After I had called the fight against climate change a serious case of collective bewilderment in a TV interview some twenty years ago, my life took a different turn.
I have always kept quiet about that. But now – after all these years – it is time to open up about it.
Some colleagues of mine at the institute where I woke up at the time, Clingendael, reacted emotionally and became angry with me when I shared my views with them. Others distanced themselves from me in a less ostentatious way.
At Clingendael I was told that they were very happy with the way in which I, as an economist, contributed to the activities of the institute and that they hoped that this would remain the case, but that my involvement with 'climate' was not appreciated.
I countered that climate policy would have a very large impact on our economy, both nationally and internationally, and that as an economist you should therefore pay attention to it. But this argument was rejected. And what about academic freedom? I asked. This argument was also found not to be strong enough.
https://www.climategate.nl/2024/12/een-ernstig-geval-van-collectieve-verstandsverbijstering/