CAN HUMANITY FLOURISH IN A WARMING WORLD?
28 September, 2026
Solutions and hope for the climate and energy crises
Public lecture as part of the James Gregory lecture series, this year delivered by Changing Climates Director Prof James Rae.
Monday 28 September, 1715-1830, Booth Lecture Theatre, Medical Sciences Building
Climate and energy present chronic, acute, and interconnected crises to the societal conditions that enable human flourishing. Climate change intensifies with every increment of emitted carbon and its impacts are not limited to polar bears nor the year 2100 but are being experienced, today, by people worldwide. And three quarters of these carbon emissions come from energy, so any viable solution to climate change will involve a transformation of the energy system, yet this system is already under strain, due to rising costs and security concerns. How to address these competing crises presents a critical challenge for humanity - yet one which I will argue here can be solved, thanks to the breakneck speed of innovation and cost reduction in clean technologies, and the alignment of climate and national security concerns. Challenges to these solutions leave no room for complacency - there are still legitimate problems to overcome and bumps on road ahead - yet there are also legitimate reasons for hope, and opportunities to build a better future.
Free Admission.