Saving the World

There’s no denying we live in a time of major upheaval – in nature, politics and economics. Are we facing the sixth mass extinction? The dinosaurs were the big losers last time - what future species will look back on extinct humans with a mixture of awe and terror at their achievements and drive to self-destruction? Paul Gilding, Naomi Oreskes, Grant Redvers and Fred Allendorf wrestle with what we’ve done, or not done, to protect ourselves and our environment, and why...and what we need to do in the future. Will humans’ deep awareness of their evolutionary connection with all life on Earth provide the basis for ethical action in responding to the current threats to our planet, its animals, its plants, and its people? Or will “merchants of doubt” obscure our fate until it is too late?

Chair: Sean Plunket.