Climate-Driven Extinction

In this episode of the Climate Emergency Forum, host Herb Simmens and experts Dr. Peter Carter and Paul Beckwith delve into the critical issue of climate-driven extinction. The panel explores the alarming rate at which species are disappearing, with extinction rates potentially 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than the natural background rate.

This video was recorded on January 22nd, 2025, and published on January 31st, 2025, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.

The discussion covers a wide range of interconnected topics, from the latest scientific research on biodiversity loss to the psychological and economic factors contributing to our detachment from nature. The experts highlight how climate change is forcing species to migrate or face extinction, and how the loss of biodiversity creates a negative feedback loop that further accelerates climate change.

This episode also touches on the broader societal implications of our changing relationship with nature, including the impact of technology on human behavior and our connection to the environment. The panel emphasizes the urgent need for unprecedented political, economic, and social efforts to prevent catastrophic biodiversity loss and its consequences for human civilization. Join us for this critical conversation about one of the most pressing issues of our time.

Links:

• The Biological Annihilation of the Ongoing Sixth Extinction Signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines

• Extinction risk from climate change

• Climate Change Extinctions

• Mutilation of the tree of life via mass extinction of animal genera

• Accelerating extinction risk from climate change (pdf)

• Climate-Driven Inflation (CEF Video)

• The Anti-Social Century

• The Incredible Benefits of Tree Hugging

Regular Panelists:

• Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute

• Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University

Guest Panelist and Host:

• Herb Simmens - Author, Co-founder of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC), Climate Emergency Board Member and former college instructor.

Video Production:

• Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

• Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.

Attributions:

Background Music:

• Title: Through the City II
• Author: Crowander
• Source: crowander.com

Image and Video:

• Image and Video Attributions