Climate change analogy

Yesterday, I was listening to an ABC Science Show podcast initially aired on Saturday 31st January 2009 and heard one of the best analogies regarding the need to halt the ever-present and accelerating climate change issue. It was a quote by John Holdren, Professor of Environment Policy at Harvard, who was selected as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Here is what he said...

"The current situation of the world in relation to the climate problem is that we're in a car with bad brakes driving toward a cliff in the fog, and the fog is the scientific uncertainty about the details that prevent us from knowing exactly where the cliff is. The climate change sceptics are telling us that the fog is a consolation and that we shouldn't worry because we're uncertain about the details, but of course any sane person driving a car toward a cliff in the fog and knowing that the brakes are bad, that it takes the car a long time to stop, will start putting on the brakes, trying to slow the car, without knowing exactly where the cliff is but just in the hope that by putting on the brakes we'll be in time to keep from going over the cliff. You don't have to be sure that you can still avoid going over the cliff to put on the brakes, you want to do it in any case. And that's what the world should be doing with respect to the emissions of greenhouse gases that are causing this climate problem. There's a chance we'll go over the cliff anyway but prudence requires that we try to stop the car."

GREAT analogy, in that it addresses the nay-sayers, as well as reinforces the need for action. It is great to finally see someone associated with the White House that has an obvious passion, but more importantly, the brains to deal with the impending issue that is climate change. Having said that however, from an academic point of view, I worry about the degree of influence that climate change appears to have in the scientific literature. For that, I will need to write another post, because there are a number of elements I wish to discuss, so will need to think about it first...