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Horizons lecture

The Fierce Urgency of Now - Horizons lecture by Ray Bradley

The Earth faces a rapid acceleration of humanity’s impact on our environment, driven by a population that now exceeds 7 billion people

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The lecture (held in English)

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, the earth has undergone unprecedented changes.  But in the last few decades there has been a rapid acceleration of humanity’s impact on our environment, driven by a world population that now exceeds 7 billion people.  Humanity’s impact can been seen in even the remotest parts of the planet, exceeding the natural limits within which life on earth has evolved over the past few million years, at least.  Exploitation of natural resources and unregulated disposal of waste products into the “global commons”—our oceans and atmosphere—poses serious challenges for the future.  We must adopt solutions that lead to a more sustainable future, while raising the standard of living of those who are impoverished and increasingly vulnerable to environmental instability.  This requires foresight and leadership at an international level, qualities that are sadly lacking in the political leaders of today.

 

Refreshments will be served before the lecture, which starts at 16.15 pm, on Thursday 15th of October in VilVite (Thormøhlens Gate 51). Everybody is welcome!

 

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Raymond S. "Ray" Bradley
Raymond S. "Ray" Bradley is a climatologist and University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is also research director of the Climate System Research Center. Bradley's work indicates that the warming of Earth's climate system in the twentieth century is inexplicable via natural mechanisms.