A Risk Management Perspective on Climate Change: Lessons Learned from the Nuclear Industry

Despite the widely acknowledged role of the anthropogenic drivers of climate change, there has been little success in developing a clear overview of the strengths and weaknesses of counter-measures or developing a consensus on their application. Problems with conventional approaches arise from the strongly coupled, multidisciplinary issues involved and the long timescales (centuries or more) over which some key processes operate. Here we outline an alternative approach based on experience gained in risk assessment for an area with similar challenges—the geological disposal of radioactive waste. Utilization of such risk assessment approaches and tools to facilitate a holistic, top-down synthesis of the interactions between the key features, events and processes driving climate change and constraining responses to it, are illustrated. We especially focus on visual presentations that encourage dialog between both specialists and non-technical stakeholders. These can thus form a basis to assist balancing responses in terms of energy policy, modified socio-economic boundary conditions and environmental management.