--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the case of climate change, the threat…" description: "\"In the case of climate change, the threat is long-term and diffuse and requires broad international action for the benefit of people decades in the fut..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/martin-rees-3002_action_in-the-case-of-climate-change-the-threat_2497708.jpg" --- # In the case of climate change, the threat is long-term and… ![“In the case of climate change, the threat is long-term and diffuse and requires broad international action for the benefit of people decades in the future. And in politics, the urgent always trumps the important, and that is what makes it a very difficult and challenging issue.” quote by Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/martin-rees-3002_action_in-the-case-of-climate-change-the-threat_2497708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/martin-rees-3002_action_in-the-case-of-climate-change-the-threat_2497708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/martin-rees-3002_action_in-the-case-of-climate-change-the-threat_2497708.jpg) > “In the case of climate change, the threat is long-term and diffuse and requires broad international action for the benefit of people decades in the future. And in politics, the urgent always trumps the important, and that is what makes it a very difficult and challenging issue.” [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Long‑term, diffuse threats like climate change need coordinated global action, but political urgency often prioritizes short‑term issues, making effective response hard. **In simple terms:** Climate change needs global action, but politics focuses on short‑term crises. Key Takeaway Prioritize long‑term planning despite political pressure. Themes environment politics policy future cooperation Mood concerned determined optimistic Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - international negotiations - national legislation - corporate sustainability strategies - public awareness campaigns Key Concepts collective action intergenerational equity risk management Questions to Reflect On - How can societies align short‑term political incentives with long‑term climate goals? - What mechanisms ensure durable international cooperation? A Different Perspective Political cycles can stall sustained effort; short‑term gains may dominate agendas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Challenging Issue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenging-issue-1029675/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-threat-763867/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [International](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Urgent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-urgent-1029674/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Threat Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat-long-1029676/) [Urgent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urgent/) ## Related quotes > [I think the right way to do this is just to step up and do it, so I actually think we'll see more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/i-think-the-right-way-to-do-this-is-just-to-step-up-and-do-it-so-i/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Self-esteem is such a challenging issue for young women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-elise/self-esteem-is-such-a-challenging-issue-for-young-women/) [Kimberly Elise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-elise/) > [I'm not as convinced as a lot of people are that man-made climate change is the threat they think it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stewart/i-m-not-as-convinced-as-a-lot-of-people-are-that-man-made-climate/) [Chris Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stewart/) > [“Change is not a threat. 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