Unfolding Our Shared Future talk series: University of Warwick Public Event
This event occurred:
2 May, 5 – 7pm, FAB 0.08, Faculty of Arts Building, University of Warwick
The climate crisis is one of the greatest global challenges of our time. Changing rain patterns, droughts, and extreme heat is already forcing farmers to adapt to the climate emergency. Sea level rise, drought, increasing floods and extreme weather events has displaced millions of climate refugees. Natural habitats are declining, killing plants and animals and escalating numerous species’ risk of extinction. These are but a few climate challenges we are presently facing.
This event will include a discussion, conducted by two leading international experts, that focuses on attempts to address the climate crisis, including the role of international climate agreements, government initiatives to counter threats, individuals’ efforts, and the influential role of non-governmental organisations. Moreover, the speakers will answer the question: is there a way that we can avoid irreparably damaging the environment and build a sustainable future?
A video of the event is below:
About the Speakers
Rebecca Willis is a Professor in Energy & Climate Governance at Lancaster Environment Centre, where she leads the Climate Citizens project. In 2020 she was an Expert Lead for Climate Assembly UK, the Citizens’ Assembly established by the UK Parliament. Rebecca is a Trustee of the New Economics Foundation and an adviser to the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund. She features on the Woman’s Hour Our Planet Power List which highlights 30 women making an impact by helping to protect our planet. Her book, Too Hot To Handle? The democratic challenge of climate change was published by Bristol University Press in March 2020.
Dr Meredith Wiggins is an environmental researcher with a passion for sustainable development. Throughout her career she has worked at the intersection of nature and culture, with a particular focus on climate change adaptation. Dr. Wiggins’ background is in archaeology, and she spent many years living and working in the UK, advising on planning, environment and culture. In 2019, she returned to the United States to take up a Science and Technology Policy Fellowship with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This fellowship places scientists with US Government Agencies, helping to translate research and policy into practice. Since then, Dr. Wiggins has worked to design and manage climate resilient international development programs. Dr. Wiggins is currently Global Climate Change Lead for Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM), a 5-year USAID-funded development mechanism that works across the globe on environmental issues. She lives just outside of Washington D.C. with her husband and two children.
This talk is part of a series, titled ‘Unfolding Our Shared Future’, which is delivered by the American Politics Group of the Political Studies Association and the host universities with the support of the British Association of American Studies and US Embassy in London.
