Cabot Institute colleagues have collaborated with the Climate Outreach and Information Network to produce a handbook that addresses the role of scientific uncertainty in climate science.

Uncertainty has become an argument for discrediting climate science and for delaying policy responses – but if communicated effectively, it can be a stimulus for action. As the world’s climate scientists gather in Paris this week, ahead of the crucial UN negotiations later in the year, a compact and comprehensive new guide to communicating uncertainty aimed at scientists, campaigners, policy-makers, and the interested public has been published.

The Uncertainty Handbook: A practical guide for climate change communicators distills expert advice and key research findings into practical and easy-to-apply techniques for effective communication.

It is a collaboration between the Climate Outreach and Information Network (COIN) and the University of Bristol and was funded by the ESRC’s Impact Accelerator funds. The handbook was authored by Dr. Adam Corner (COIN), Cabot Institute member Professor Stephan Lewandowsky (University of Bristol), Dr. Mary Phillips (University of Bristol) and Olga Roberts (COIN). All are experts in their fields and have expertise relating to the role of uncertainty in climate change or how best to communicate it. For more information go to:

http://www.bris.ac.uk/cabot/news/2015/uncertainty-handbook.html