Climate Policy Discussion with Frosti Sigurjónsson

Frosti Sigurjónsson, an Icelandic economist, entrepreneur, and former member of parliament, published Hitamál in December 2025, a book that takes a critical look at current climate policy, carbon taxes, and targets for carbon neutrality. Drawing on approximately a hundred studies and a wide range of sources, Hitamál explores the complexity of Earth’s climate system, questions prevailing assumptions in climate policy debates, and examines the costs and unintended effects of regulatory measures.

In interviews and discussions about the book, Frosti has highlighted how carbon taxes raise prices without significantly reducing emissions and has argued that Iceland’s contribution to global emissions is so small that the effects of local policy on global temperatures are limited. Hitamál has sparked widespread discussion across radio and podcast forums about whether current climate strategies are effective or whether alternative approaches merit closer consideration.

Paradigm presented Frosti in conversation about Hitamál. The discussion focused on the central questions raised in his work, including scientific uncertainties in climate modeling, the economic impacts of carbon taxation, and whether current regulatory frameworks deliver the outcomes they promise.

The event offered an opportunity to engage directly with one of Iceland’s most distinctive voices on environmental policy and to explore how evidence and cost considerations might inform public approaches to climate issues.