The Ethics of Climate Change: A Panel Discussion with Bill McKibben, Rupert Read, and Kim Cobb

This event will feature an hour and a half panel discussion on the ethical and psychological dimensions of climate change: What are the responsibilities of those who know about the extent of the threat? Are they obligated to trumpet it at every opportunity, and/or massively alter their normal mode of living? How does one manage the anxiety and despair that attends an understanding of the bleakness of the science? How do we address not just scientific denial but emotional disavowal of climate reality?

Our panelists include the environmentalist and Schumann Distinguished Scholar Bill McKibben, the philosopher and former UK politician Rupert Read, and the climate scientist and lead coauthor of the 2018 IPCC report Kim Cobb. President Laurie Patton will be offering the opening remarks and Prof. Daniel Suarez from the Environmental Studies Program will be moderating. A Q&A session will follow the discussion.