Recent weeks and months have seen the planetary concerns of scientists and members of the public gain much greater prominence in the media.
*** NB. THIS EVENT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED. ***
The threat to our continued survival from climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and many other environmental stressors have led to calls for urgent action emanating from individuals such as Greta Thunberg, through to organisations such as the Inter-governmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Some citizens are fearful that time is running out and that fundamental changes in our lifestyles, our economy and our relationship with the Earth must be implemented immediately. But there are still many sceptics and even more poorly informed individuals, who remain to be persuaded before truly effective measures can be employed.
In this presentation, opportunities to overcome this gloomy outlook will be explored by examining different ways to frame the issues that confront us. Practical options available for responding to global environmental change and for engaging wider audiences will be outlined with a view to dismantling pessimism. It is important we recognise that the way we have viewed Nature and Earth’s ecosystems has changed radically over the last few centuries. The question now arises “how can we meet the exciting challenge of re-imagining Nature and our place in it, for the future?”
Michael Depledge is Emeritus Professor of Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter Medical School, Devon, UK. He is also an Honorary Professor of Public Policy at University College, London and an Honorary Consultant of Public Health England. He was formerly a Commissioner of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and Chief Scientist of the Environment Agency of England and Wales. He has published more than 400 papers in the peer reviewed international literature on diverse topics within the sphere of environment and human health, including oceans and human health, chemical pollution, climate change impacts, pharmaceuticals in the environment as well as studies on the use of the natural environment to foster improvements in health and wellbeing. Depledge is an advisor on environment and health issues to the UK Government, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Environment Programme, the European Environment Agency as well as many other organisations. He has recently been appointed as the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Eden Project (www.edenproject.com) as well as being invited to join the Wellcome Trust’s Strategic Advisory Committee for their programme “Our Planet, Our Health”. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list for services to environment and human health science.
Venue: Cellar Bar. Free.
PLEASE NOTE – THIS EVENT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED. Please arrive 10 minutes before start, at the risk of losing your reserved place.