An insurance policy against global warming

Climate change science has had bad press recently, acknowledges The Economist. Revelations that the IPCC had overstated certain global warming outcomes, “have provided heavy ammunition to those who doubt the seriousness of the problem.” Climate science, however, is subject to ambiguity. “The wide range of the outcomes it predicts—from a mildly warming global temperature increase of 1.1°C by the end of the century to a hellish 6.4°C—illustrate the uncertainties”. Which “sit uncomfortably with the demands of politics.” The slogan “Six months to save the planet” garners more support than measured statements about possible climate change impacts. While the range of outcomes may be large, The Economist argues that for governments “the costs of averting climate change are comparatively small. Just as a householder pays a small premium to protect himself against disaster, the world should do the same.”