Biography

Named in Foreign Policy’s ‘Top 100 Public Intellectuals’ and Time Magazine’s ‘World’s 100 Most Influential People’, Bjørn Lomborg is dedicated to finding new and innovative ways for humankind to address their environmental impact. Determined to prove that seemingly unavoidable problems throughout the world can be managed effectively, he is the author of numerous acclaimed books and an advisor to top economists. Lomborg’s think-tank, the Copenhagen Consensus Center, is globally respected for its work examining the use of aid and development funds.

  • Director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center
  • Adjunct Professor at Copenhagen Business School
  • Author of books including How Much Have Global Problems Cost the World – A Scorecard from 1900 to 2050

Like anyone with a genuine passion, Lomborg is able to captivate his audience and inform them. His level of knowledge is evident, and he is not afraid to voice some of his more controversial views and explain his reasoning.

Exploring ways in which to solve environmental, aid, and development crises the world over, Bjørn Lomborg has become one of the top thinkers of his kind. Not afraid to court controversy, his innovative exploration of problem-solving methods for now and the future have seen him work with top economists and organizations. An adjunct professor at Copenhagen Business School, he shares his motivation and inspiration with the next generation of thinkers and is also a founding member and director of the Copenhagen Consensus Centre, a think-tank devoted to investigating some of the global challenges facing humankind.

Climate change is the area in which Lomborg’s opinions have attracted the most interest. He has argued that global policy for the prevention of man-made climate change is costly, likely to be ineffective and that the money used would be better spent elsewhere. He also stated that much of the data concerning climate change and overpopulation did not seem to be supported by accurate statistical analysis. This viewpoint angered many environmental groups and some others in the scientific community and Lomborg was even accused of scientific dishonesty.

Undeterred, Lomborg fought his corner and his name was eventually cleared. In 2010, a documentary featuring Lomborg and his theories was screened in the USA. Called Cool It, the documentary addressed how to convey a realistic view of environmental issues.

An in depth knowledge concerning environmental challenges and an unconventional approach to related topics have seen Lomborg write a number of successful books. He also writes a monthly newsletter which reaches 30 million readers globally.  During his career he has provided articles and interviews to prestigious papers including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Guardian. Lomborg has made numerous television appearances for the BBC, CNN, Fox and many others, appearing in programmes such as Newsnight, 60 Minutes and The Late Show with David Letterman.

Lomborg achieved an M.A in Political Science in 1991, before continuing his studies into the subject at a post-graduate level, obtaining his doctorate from the University of Copenhagen in 1994.

Bjørn Lomborg’s Positions and Honours

  • Included in 50 People Who Could Save the Planet – The Guardian (2008)
  • Included in 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century Esquire (2008)
  • Included in Top 100 Public Intellectuals – Foreign Policy & Prospect Magazine (2008)
  • Director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center (2006 – )
  • Included in Worlds 100 Most Influential People – Time Magazine (2004)
  • Copenhagen Consensus Center included in Top 25 Environmental Think Tanks – University of Pennsylvania
Read More
Request Availability

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

The Truth about Global Warming

Lomborg demonstrates how we're often told very one-sided and exaggerated claims about the environment and climate change, leading to unwarranted panic, instead of rationally assessing where and how we can do the most good. He argues that we need smarter solutions focused on getting long-term solutions such as cost-competitive renewables and that many of the impacts of global warming would be better addressed through adaptation.

How to Make Your Efforts Count: Feeling Good vs. Doing Good

Lomborg energizes participants with a controversial and stimulating session on how to prioritize the world's greatest problems—global warming, world poverty, and disease—based on how effective our solutions might be. It's a thought-provoking and provocative list. The premise is that we can't solve every problem in the world, so we must ask, Which ones should we fix first?

Booksby Dr. Bjørn Lomborg

False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet

The Skeptical Environmentalist

Cool It

Blog Posts

Never Give Up, Never Quit: Lessons on Resilience from Travis M

Resilience keynote speaker Travis Mills shares how surviving as a quadruple amputee teaches us to find strength in gratitude and keep going.

Read More

Brand Trust Strategies Every Event Pro Needs to Know

Learn how event professionals build brand trust through integrity, consistency, and small details, with insights from brand expert Denise Lee Yohn.

Read More

Creativity Strategies That Transform Workplace Culture, with Nir Bashan

Creativity transforms workplace culture when leaders treat it as a learnable skill, not a personality trait. Nir Bashan explains how.

Read More

The Reach-Out Rule for Mental Health

One simple rule for mental health this May: if someone crosses your mind, reach out. No agenda. Just humanity.

Read More

Playing the Game of Life: Events and Experiences That Actually Transform

Events create human collision points that digital tools can't replicate. Here's why in-person experiences matter more than ever, with insights from Jess Ekstrom.

Read More

Courageous Leadership Skills Every Event Planner Needs

Discover the courage mindset event planners need to lead with confidence, manage risk, and thrive in high-pressure event environments with insights from Julian Pistone.

Read More

Related Energy & Environment Speakers

Get in TouchContact US

Fill out the form so we can best understand your needs.

A representative from The Keynote Curators will reach out to you.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Fill out the form so we can best understand your needs.
    A representative from The Keynote Curators will reach out to you.

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form