This public lecture delivered as one of the Waiheke Lecture Series to the New Zealand Centre for Global Studies in May 1916 deals with global society and the challenges of governance. It deals with the themes of environmental governance, climate change, the nuclear threat and international institutions, particularly the United Nations. In all these areas is suggested that the problems are significant and the solutions are not to hand. Despite the problems, it is not too late to solve them the lecture concludes, despite the fact that time is running out. More robust international law, a new organization to deal with international environmental problems, a stronger UN and an end to the stalemate on nuclear weapons are issues available to be progressed. We need to find ways to ensure the holders of public power are held to account for social injustice and human suffering on a global scale.