Why are economists, like lawyers and proctologists, universally loved and admired? One reason is our penchant for highlighting the perverse unintended consequences of public policies, particularly policies that ignore behavioral responses. 

A few weeks can pass quickly in politics. A moment ago Francois Hollande sat and discussed climate science at the College de France.

Today I was feeling confident that I had my badge and knew my way around the COP21. In the afternoon I was first working with two colleagues from Gothenburg (Åsa Löfgren and Wolfgang Habla). Then I was at the Ecole de Mines – one of the great engineering schools.

First day we travelled to Le Bourget. Åsa Löfgren and I and many thousands more. People from small island states, in national costumes of feathers and many men in suits. Then dozens of scanners and badges, welcome packages and everything just magically swift. All in all the arrangements, the scanning, the process of registration for accredited observers, absolutely everything has worked smoothly. Much better than in Copenhagen.  The coffee, the gateaux and the food were exquisite. Maybe one thing was missing: Not much hope nor desperation. 

Yesterday Noveber 30th, COP21 was finally inaugurated by President Hollande. Of course it is hard in such a speech to know what are just words and to what extent there will be force behind them. Clearly he is riding on a wave of some sympathy. Two weeks ago he came and shook hands with me and those next to me in the front row, after spending a few hours debating at the Collège de France. He said he wanted to speak not only for France but for Science. Then came the terrorist attacks and he was propelled into his role as the strong leader of France.

Note: This blogpost was first published as an RWI Impact note in November 2015. 

Note: This blogpost was published by the Economist on November 18, 2015 read original blogpost here

Looking out of the window I see a Paris bathed in sunshine on this warm winter Sunday. But the headlines talk of bathing in blood. This blog post will be about art school, climate science, statistics and the politics of terror. Each of us must struggle to find balance in life.

Most Swedes know that our country was covered by ice during the ice-ages – latest some 20 000 years ago. We know this because our lands are still “rebounding” like a spring – or a sponge - that has been compressed (except that this goes on for thousands of years). It is just a few mm per year but it gives a feeling for how mighty the forces of nature are.

That must have been a heavy load of ice! In fact when I fly in to Gothenburg I look down and think that a third of that distance was ice… Still I never compared this to Antarctica.