Climate Change and COVID Are Wicked Policy Problems at the Interface of Science and Politics

Climate change and COVID-19 are examples of “wicked policy problems” where possible guiding goals are multiple and conflicting, and policies for resolving them are uncertain in their likely effectiveness and impact. These policy problems may be framed in part as “science issues”; but they are at the interface of science and politics. As such, in a democratic society they require recognizing, accommodating, and reconciling differing perspectives and interests through informed, respectful debate and compromise. Carbon pricing to address climate change, demonstrates the political challenge of wicked policy problems. The COVID pandemic can offer important lessons about flexibility and policy experimentation as the basis for “social learning” to better manage such problems in the public interest.