Thomas Gale Moore

About the author: Thomas Gale Moore is a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.

Global warming will benefit humanity. Fewer people will die from cold-related complications, heating costs will decline, and increased plant growth will help to feed a growing world population. Rather than struggling to reduce greenhouse gas emissions— which would be financially burdensome—industrialized nations should promote economic growth and prosperity in poor countries so that they will be better equipped to handle potentially disruptive changes in climate.

In the recent debates over global warming in Washington and other world capitals, a critical point has been lost: Global warming, if it were to occur, would probably benefit most Americans. If humankind had to choose between a warmer or a cooler climate, we would certainly choose the former. Humans, nearly all...