President Crow's British sustainability advisor to discuss 'the human future'

The human future – three short words that carry lots of meaning. Our future depends on the way we organize, function and interact with the environment that surrounds us. In our world’s current state, what does our future look like?

Britain’s Sir Crispin Tickell will be visiting Arizona State University to discuss “The Human Future” from 6 to 7:30 p.m., April 11, at the Tempe Center for the Arts in the Lakeside Room.

Passionate about history, world affairs and the biological sciences, Tickell has become a renowned climate change expert. In 1984, he served as advisor to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, helping her add climate change to the Group of Seven (G7) agenda. He is currently an advisor-at-large to ASU President Michael Crow.

Tickell’s interest in climate change was spurred by his fellowship at Harvard University in the 1970s. There, he wrote his first book, "Climate Change and World Affairs." Since then, he has written a second book and contributed to many others on environmental issues and social sciences.

He is particularly interested in today’s era, known as the “anthropocene.” The anthropocene is defined by humans’ growing population and innovation – leading to increasing demands on the natural resources we depend on.

“Our society is in great danger of running into real difficulty,” says Tickell. “The most serious challenges, I think, of our species and of other forms of life, are the proliferation of the human species at an increasing rate, exhaustion of natural resources, and the fact that we are changing the chemistry of the air, land and sea.”

After many years of service, Tickell says it is people and the future of our civilization that inspire him to continue educating the public about climate change.

“We have a responsibility to the future for all species on this earth, among whom we are a tiny part,” he says. “What inspires me is the need to bring the message of that responsibility to our fellow human beings. There are many illusions people have about climate change, so what makes me keep going is spreading this message in terms that people can understand.”

At his lecture, part of the Global Institute of Sustainability’s Wrigley Lecture Series, Tickell will share his idea of a sustainable future, as well as discuss actions we can all take to lessen our impact on the one and only planet we have.

“I hope the audience will begin to see the threat the human species faces and the way we can meet climate change challenges, or fail to meet those challenges.” Tickell says. “I think once people understand the issues and recognize their personal responsibilities, they can begin to take the appropriate actions.”

You can RSVP to Tickell’s lecture here: http://sustainability.asu.edu/events/rsvp/crispin-tickell-2013.

Named after the Global Institute of Sustainability’s benefactor, Julie Ann Wrigley, the Wrigley Lecture Series occurs at least once a month and features world-renowned thinkers and problem-solvers that engage the community in dialogues to address sustainability challenges. View upcoming Wrigley Lectures here.