Planetary limits: How academics are responding to the global ecological crisis

7.30 pm Tuesday, 19 July, Palmerston North Central Library, George Street,

Palmerston North

The challenges posed by humanity’s ever-increasing material and energy use and its impacts on planetary systems – most notably climate and biodiversity – are hardly new or unknown. They have been intensely studied in many disciplines for decades. But as we enter a new phase characterised by widespread and obvious impacts, and continue rushing headlong into a minefield studded with points of no return, many academics around the world have concluded that current approaches are woefully insufficient and that something new is needed.

Robert McLachlan is Distinguished Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University, and writes on climate and environmental issues at planetaryecology.or