We, the Weather Makers

A discussion of the implications of climate change science for political economy and democracy

 

Tuesday, March 20th, 6pm.
The Westminster Forum
Centre for the Study of Democracy
32-38 Wells Street, 5th Floor
London, W1T 3UW.
( Map )

 

Tim Flannery's award winning, accessible work 'The Weather Makers: the history and future impact of climate change' will form the starting point for our discussion, which shall consider the following questions:

Is our political-economic system capable of addressing climate change?

What new kinds of political and economic decision-making are required?

Where does an issue such as climate change leave the principle upheld by many of the 'sovereignty of the consumer'?

Does 'risk society' really leave us in a new political era?

 

Our speakers are from three different departments of the University of Westminster:

Professor David Henderson, visiting professor at the Westminster business school and former Chief Economist at the OECD. He has recently published a critique of corporate social responsibility, entitled Misguided Virtue (pdf here)

Dr Neil Strachan, Senior Research Fellow, The Environment Group, Policy Studies Institute

with an introduction from Professor John Keane, Centre for the Study of Democracy.

For more information about Tim Flannery's book, visit www.theweathermakers.com

Some praise for Flannery's book:

"his is the book the world has been waiting for – and needing – for decades. At last, a book that sets out, for the general public, the irrefutable evidence that climate change is already happening, and we need to become very serious about it – fast."

–Professor Peter Singer

internationally renowned author and ethicist

"Of the doomsday clocks ticking toward midnight, climate change is the most fearful. To learn what is known, one cannot do better than read Tim Flannery's eloquent and authoritative account in The Weather Makers. Understanding is the first step toward salvation."

–John Polanyi

Nobel Laureate