A number of the topics we choose for 'Hot Topics' would come under the category of what are called in the policy literature 'Wicked Problems' and 'Super Wicked Problems'.
The following extracts have been taken by an article by Chris Riedy, Professor of Sustainability Governance at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney, titled 'Climate Change is a Super Wicked Problem' .
The following extracts have been taken by an article by Chris Riedy, Professor of Sustainability Governance at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney, titled 'Climate Change is a Super Wicked Problem' .
"In Tackling Wicked Problems from the Australian Public Service Commission:
"Climate change as a ‘super wicked’ problem....According to Kelly Levin and co-authors, super wicked problems are a new class of global environmental problem with four key features:
Chris Riedy, Professor of Sustainability Governance at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney
- Wicked problems are difficult to clearly define — different stakeholders have different views of what the problem is and appropriate responses
- Wicked problems have many interdependencies and are often multi-causal — there may be conflicting goals for those involved
- Attempts to address wicked problems often lead to unforeseen consequences — wicked problems exist in complex systems that exhibit unpredictable, emergent behaviour
- Wicked problems are often not stable — understanding of the problem is constantly evolving
- Wicked problems usually have no clear solution — there is no right or wrong response, although there might be worse or better responses
- Wicked problems are socially complex — it is social complexity, rather than technical complexity, that is overwhelming
- Wicked problems hardly ever sit conveniently within the responsibility of any one organisation — these problems cross governance boundaries
- Wicked problems involve changing behaviour — with all the difficulties that poses
- Some wicked problems are characterised by chronic policy failure — they have become intractable, despite numerous attempts at solutions...."
"Climate change as a ‘super wicked’ problem....According to Kelly Levin and co-authors, super wicked problems are a new class of global environmental problem with four key features:
- time is running out
- those who cause the problem also seek to provide a solution
- the central authority needed to address them is weak or non-existent
- irrational discounting occurs that pushes responses into the future.
Chris Riedy, Professor of Sustainability Governance at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney