Bookings for this event have now closed. If you wish to attend please email alumni@cranfield.ac.uk.
'Living in a full world – biodiversity, carbon and economics'
We are delighted to be able to invite alumni to the next webinar in our Ideas, Insight and Innovation series, 'Living in a full world – biodiversity, carbon and economics’ with Professor Jim Harris FRSB, FIAgrE, Professor of Environmental Technology, Cranfield Environment Centre and Chair in Environmental Technology.
Current global agreements have a major focus on reducing, eliminating, and sequestering carbon. Less prominent in the headlines is the crisis in biodiversity.
We are losing species at an alarming rate. If we are going to regenerate the planet and ourselves, we have to recognise the value of nature and reconnecting society with it at all levels.
Join Professor Jim Harris FRSB, FIAgrE, Professor of Environmental Technology, Cranfield Environment Centre and Chair in Environmental Technology, in upcoming webinar ‘Living in a full world – biodiversity, carbon and economics’ to discover how tackling biodiversity loss and net zero and negative carbon together will make our solutions more impactful.
Please note that the Zoom link for the webinar will be sent out one day prior to the event date.
If you are unable to attend this event but would like to receive the recording once this is available please book here.
If you are having any issues accessing your alumni account or booking onto the event please email alumni@cranfield.ac.uk and we will be happy to help.
Programme & speakers
Professor Jim Harris FRSB, FIAgrE, Professor of Environmental Technology, Cranfield Environment Centre and Chair in Environmental Technology
'Living in a full world – biodiversity, carbon and economics'
Current global agreements have a major focus on reducing, eliminating, and sequestering carbon. Less prominent in the headlines is the crisis in biodiversity – the Sixth Great Extinction, with the current rate of species loss to be as much as 1 000 times higher than the natural background - caused by us. We have been losing species by habitat loss, unchecked invasive species, overexploitation (extreme hunting and fishing pressure), pollution, and climate change. The UK itself is in the bottom 10% of biodiversity as a country – with about half of its biodiversity left – compared to the global average of 75%, which itself is nothing to celebrate.
So why is tackling biodiversity loss and net zero (and negative) carbon together essential? Nature not only has those compositional attributes that we are familiar with – charismatic animals, mature forests, and beautiful landscapes, but there is a lot going on in a mature functioning system, which is more than the sum of its parts, including the deep spiritual meaning and use that nature has for Indigenous communities, and the biophilia that we all benefit from. There is very clear and accumulating evidence that restoring biodiverse vegetation, and using multiple species in farmed systems, increases carbon sequestration in both rate and total fixed. We have to recognise the value of nature and reconnecting society with it at all levels- especially economics – if we are going to regenerate the planet and ourselves. Classical “empty world” economic approaches are no longer fit for purpose. We need holistic approaches, such as “Doughnut Economics” if we are to succeed.
By considering Net Zero and Biodiversity Loss as the same problem, our solutions will be far more impactful, and ethically sound. Let’s stop losing the parts to protect and restore the whole, and reconnect Nature and Culture.
Location & travel details
Online via Zoom.
Who should attend
All alumni and students welcome.
Cost & concessions
This event is free to attend.