Jerome Cogburn Taylor (born August 2, 1963) is an American environmental activist, policy analyst, and game designer. Taylor cofounded the Niskanen Center, a Washington, D.C. based think tank that, among other things, advocates for market environmentalism and the adoption of a carbon tax system to combat global warming.[1]
Jerry Taylor | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jerome Cogburn Taylor August 2, 1963 |
| Nationality | American |
Early life and education edit
Taylor attended the University of Iowa as a political science major.[citation needed] As a student, Taylor became an editor of the Hawkeye Review, a conservative student newspaper that served as an alternative to the Daily Iowan, and founded “Students for Traditional American Freedoms”, a conservative activist group.
Career edit
Before founding the Niskanen Center in 2014, Taylor was a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, where he previously espoused a skeptical position on environmental issues.[2] Taylor's case is a prominent example of a former climate-change denier who came to embrace policies to address climate change after researching the scientific consensus behind man-made global warming.[3] During the 1990s and 2000s Taylor made regular media appearances as a global warming denier, including on Penn and Teller's show Bullshit as well as a special edition of the John Stossel show devoted to attacking climate science. After being challenged by Joe Romm to fact-check sources, Taylor changed his prior beliefs because "the scientific evidence became stronger and stronger over time."[3][2][4]
On September 6 2021, Taylor resigned from the Niskanen Institute. He had been placed on administrative leave by the Institute a few days earlier after the board became aware of him being charged with domestic violence against his wife.[5] Those charges were subsequently dismissed in court.
He is also a board game designer who has released three wargames, Hammer of the Scots, Crusader Rex, and Richard III.[6]
Personal life edit
Taylor's brother, James Taylor, is president at the Heartland Institute which opposes addressing climate change.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b "THINK TANKS: Brothers duke it out from opposite sides of climate fight". www.eenews.net. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
- ^ a b Lerner, Sharon (28 April 2017). "How a Professional Climate Change Denier Discovered the Lies and Decided to Fight for Science". The Intercept. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2015-05-12). "The arguments that convinced a libertarian to support aggressive action on climate". Vox. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ Johnston, Ian (2 May 2017). "How climate change deniers' lies made a leading sceptic change sides". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019.
- ^ "Think tank president quits after domestic violence complaint". Politico. 2021-09-29.
- ^ "Interview with Jerry Taylor". 2005-04-04. Archived from the original on 2006-05-03. Retrieved 2022-07-12.