Increasing uncertainty about high-stakes risks: The impetus for radical change?

Most of us recognize that when society's collective trends expose us to disasters which may threaten our survival, some rather radical, i.e., fundamental, actions may be necessary to forestall such untoward events. Yet, what signals might trigger such action? Pronouncements that the ldquoend is nearrdquo have not proven to be very effective, and rightfully so. We suggest rather that the impetus for action may come from increased uncertainty, or fuzziness, about large scale disaster, arising from knowledge imperfections. This uncertainty itself may therefore provide the tipping point for action, assuming however that such action does not come too late.