Why might politicians be reluctant to act on the issue of global warming?

Answer 1

In Western democracies, politicians are generally elected for terms of two to five years, after which they must stand for re-election. Taking any action that might have a short-term cost in order to prevent a problem that will occur far out beyond the five-year horizon takes a lot of political courage, especially on an issue that many citizens do not full understand. This is often the reason some members of government are reluctant to take action 'just yet'.

Opposition politicians do not need to concern themselves about fallout from unpopular government decisions, but they can look for short-term political advantage in opposing any action the government might take. Thus, some members of opposition parties are willing to oppose good policy in order to improve their own election prospects at a forthcoming election.

Answer 2

Politicians may be reluctant to act on global warming due to conflicting interests with powerful industries that contribute to the issue. Additionally, the short-term costs of implementing solutions could be perceived as a political liability. Finally, the long-term nature of the issue may not align with politicians' shorter election cycles and immediate priorities.