Michael Mandelbaum, a distinguished author with seminal contributions to a better understanding of some of the world’s most intractable problems, discusses why we are failing in our efforts to protect the planet from the calamities of climate change and what to do about it. He also analyzes our unsettled global security situation and the risks for an acceleration of nuclear proliferation and the implications of this for world peace. He comments on the role that the United Nations can play in reconciling national interests with those of the international community, at a time of growing interdependence and interconnectedness. In this interview professor Mandelbaum is articulate and cogent, helping us better understand the background and origins of the great challenges of our age, as an important step to help us frame durable solutions.