Climate Change: Are the Models Good Enough?

One of the key tools in foreseeing the effects of any changes in global temperature are the climate models that are used by scientists to predict how the climate will look a number of years ahead.  The central importance of such models is clear.  Indeed the whole of the argument about the devastation that global warming will bring is solely based on such models.  But are these models good enough?  Do they really predict the future?
The efficacy of climate modelling depends on two key things.  First are the data that are fed into the models accurate and reliable and secondly are the underpinning assumptions and algorithms sufficiently logical, robust and comprehensive to produce reliable conclusions.  The trouble is the world is such a complicated place with so many interactions that even our best models can only produce very simplistic conclusions.  Unfortunately we simply don't know enough about how the World ticks.
Today the Economist publishes an excellent article Errors of Omission that tackles these exact points.  Easy to read and understand (like all Economist articles - what a joy they are!), the article points out some of the difficulties we have in relying on such models that take no account of geopolitical and diplomatic trends, for example.  The conclusion is that the models must become even more comprehensive if they are to be of more use.  We know from our own experience how difficult it is to get a totally reliable forecast of what the weather is going to do.  Forecasting the global impact of a change in temperature is therefore a big ask!