This chapter challenges the common idea that there are short-term problems such as pandemics and long-term problems such as climate change. Hansson argues that both problems have long-term causes and consequences resulting from human actions (and inactions), and addressing these problems will require decision makers to rely on the knowledge and input of scientific experts. However, Hansson identifies several important distinctions between these two problems that cause different types of challenges in dealing with them. He argues that national leaders have stronger incentives to deal with pandemics than climate change because the effects of pandemics are more immediately felt and harder to deny, and there are efficient measures that can be taken against pandemics within an individual country, while addressing climate change will require global coordination.