The chances of climate change seriously affecting the world and man's capacity to feed and water himself within the lifetime of people alive now is much higher than one in 100. And the consequences for everyone would be severe, even for those who find themselves fortuitously in a valley of plenty. Yet preparations are at best relaxed.

Climate change is happening, and our capacity to keep that in check is the subject of debate. But the world has the capacity to reduce its impact on our food and water systems, yet even this insurance seems to be dismissed as something someone else should do, as something we don't need to do. Australians believe we're sitting pretty, apart from those living on the waterfront.

I insure my car despite the fact that I've never had an accident and I think the risk is low. Bridges are built to withstand loads much greater than they'll ever carry. Cars are insured and bridges are over-engineered because the consequences of calamity are severe.

Yet Australians and people of other developed nations seem to have a mental block when it comes to the unsustainability of our way of life. Even small changes are seen as too hard. And government-enforced change is precarious in a democracy.

Are we doomed by our own inertia and intransigence? What can be done to create change?