E3G

The Challenge of Long Term Strategy

By Nick Mabey

Achieving sustainable development requires long term choices in complex uncertain areas which don’t fit neatly into established government departments.

However, this aspiration runs counter to the short-term realities of day-to-day government - and the media driven deadlines of modern politics.

E3G Founding Director Nick Mabey recently gave a presentation on this theme to a seminar at the International Centre for the Environment, University of Bath.

Nick Mabey’s presentation ‘Practical Sustainable Development: the challenge of long term strategy in day to day Government’ analyses the challenges of making sustainable development a reality.

It includes a series of real policy cases studies from his work in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, and suggests how these problems can be overcome.

The case studies presented include fisheries policy, energy strategy and countries at risk of instability. Nick also describes how the policy proposals of interest groups fall short when placed in the context of the choices that decision-makers can take.

Nick Mabey’s presentation is attached here for download in pdf format.