Long Problems: Climate Change and the Challenge of Governing Across Time

by Thomas N. Hale

Political strategies for tackling climate change and other “long problems” that span generations

Climate change and its consequences unfold over many generations. Past emissions affect our climate today, just as our actions shape the climate of tomorrow, while the effects of global warming will last thousands of years. Yet the priorities of the present dominate our climate policy and the politics surrounding it. Even the social science that attempts to frame the problem does not theorize time effectively. In this pathbreaking book, Thomas Hale examines the politics of climate change and other “long problems.” He shows why we find it hard to act before a problem’s effects are felt, why our future interests carry little weight in current debates, and why our institutions struggle to balance durability and adaptability. With long-term goals in mind, he outlines strategies for tilting the politics and policies of climate change toward better outcomes.

Globalization “widened” political problems across national boundaries and changed our understanding of politics and governance. Hale argues that we must make a similar shift to understand the “lengthening” of problems across time. He describes tools and strategies that can, under certain conditions, allow policymakers to anticipate future needs and risks, make interventions that get ahead of problems, shift time horizons, adapt to changing circumstances, and set forward-looking goals that endure. As the climate changes, politics must, too. Efforts to solve long-term problems—not only climate change but other issues as well, including technology governance and demographic shifts—can also be a catalyst for a broader institutional transformation oriented toward the long term. With Long Problems , Hale offers an essential guide to governing across time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Public Policy, Politics

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2024

Reviews

[Iang95ify . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hale offers suggestions on how governance needs to change to deal with long problems such as climate change, that technological solutions are not enough and that there needs to be leadership to steer humanity away from the worst of the climate catastrophe. You'll need a major in Political Science to read this fully. While we still have time to avoid the worst outcome, the windows of opportunity are closing and we need to engage whole of society through citizen assemblies, and politicians marshalling resources to deal with climate change seriously for the present and future generations.

[Chloé · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The tragedy of the commons is equally a tragedy of the horizon” - Took me a while to finish but the prospect of hearing Thomas Hale live made me speed read the ending. A good, accessible book on policy & governance challenges of long-term problems. Easy to grapple with and relatively pragmatic in the solutions outlined, this summarises what a lot of people don’t take the time to articulate. I do wish more had been expanded on the moral argument for longtermism, and why our morals should extend not only across space but across time. A good introduction.

[Alan Eyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent exploration of how we are ill-suited to deal with ‘long problems’ such as climate change, due to factors like ‘the early action paradox,’ ‘shadow interests,’ and institutional lag. Also explains how the problem is likely to get worse and what can be done. A real analytical contribution.

[Mert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic and I recommend it to both laymen and experts. It offers a rigorous and analytically sharp account of climate discourses and governance. Moreover it illuminates the previously less discussed temporal dimensions of the complexity of climate governance.

Hale writes exceptionally well. His language is precise and his explanations are very observant. I personally think it is one of the greatest crafts of research to be able to reflect on an issue anew which has been discussed many times. In this book Hale masters this craft in an unparalleled fashion within the realm of books which are also accessible for laymen. It was honestly such a joy to read this book and to have my perspectives expanded so elegantly.