Scientists urged to tell us the news we really don't want to hear

-       Robert McLean

Society is simply not ready, it seems, to hear about the hard-edged realities of climate change.

Dr Michael Raupach.

Some scientists have gone to extremes to illustrate what it is they have learned, often doing themselves and their careers a disservice, and now one of Australia’s most senior climate scientists has called on his colleagues not to sit on the sidelines of the political debate about global warming and other environmental issues.

What they have to say is, or course, critical for all to hear and listen to, but the question remains: how do you get into the public debate, keep your professional reputation and personal wellbeing intact as you do that?

In a story by Tom Arup in today’s Melbourne Age headed: “Climate change scientist calls on colleagues to speak up on global warming debate” Dr Michael Raupach was said to be encouraging scientists to speak up.

In a speech to be given to the Australian Academy of Science on Tuesday evening, Dr Raupach, who heads the ANU Climate Change Institute will say environment scientists' position in the public debate had changed because they were now presenting evidence requiring society to make major choices in response.

That suggestion is to be applauded, but personal experience suggests that most of us have a finite pool of worries, and climate change is simply not among them.