Heading into the world of 'unknown unknowns'

Climate change is presenting the world with more “unknown unknowns”.

The former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, talked about “known unknowns and unknown unknowns” and although he was not talking about the implications climate change, but could have been.

An example of the dilemma highlighted by Rumsfeld is happening in Siberia where in the middle of last summer suddenly large craters appeared that as first seemed inexplicable.

It is now understood, however, that they are a product of climate change that has thawed the permafrost and allowed methane to escape.

A Melbourne Age story headed: “Scientists know there are more giant craters in Siberia, but arenervous to even study them” discusses the craters and points out that officials don’t want to scare people, but need to further examine explore the causes of the craters.

Renewable energy safe 'known' compared to geoengineering 'unknown'

Donald Rumsfeld wasn’t talking about climate change when he referred to “known knowns” or “unknown unknowns”, but he could have been.

The former U.S. Secretary of Defence was confusing and distracting listeners when talking about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

He said in 2002 “There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.”

The conversation around climate change is equally confusing and achieves “lift-off” when it wanders into geoengineering, a dynamic loaded with “known knowns” and “unknown unknowns”.

Climate Spectator has bravely ventured into this risky space with its story: “Renewables still better than 'risky' geoengineering” pointing out that the known realities of renewable energy and vastly better than the “unknown unknowns” of geoengineering.