James Painter on communicating Climate Change in terms of risk

James Painter was quoted in an article for Reuters (8 November) entitled 'UN draft stresses risk of global warming, from economy to health'.

The article, which was reproduced by Yahoo Singapore and DNA India, highlighted a shift in focus by the United Nations when discussing the issue of climate change, towards the idea of climate change action as a form of global insurance policy. A leaked 29-page draft by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), about the impacts of rising temperatures and due for release in March 2014, mentions "risk" 139 times against just 41 in its last assessment in 2007.

James was quoted as saying that "More risk language helps to shift the public debate away from the idea that decisions should be delayed until absolute certainty is obtained - something that may never be achieved."

He said politicians and businesses were used to making decisions based on risks, and many people insure their homes against fire even though the risks of a blaze are small.