The ThunderBlogs

Last Saturday evening, while students were at the bars or in the books, a lecture hall at UBC was packed with grey and white haired citizens to hear Gwynne Dyer speak about climate change. The talk entitled, “Geopolitics in a Hotter World,” was the fall kickoff to a series of free public lectures hosted by The Vancouver Institute. Of the 800 people there to hear Dyer speak about the younger generation’s upcoming crises, a majority were senior citizens. About 100 were under 50.

Dressed in a dark brown, worn-out-looking leather jacket, over a forest green button up shirt, Dyer began his talk quietly, almost muttering. With the deep gruffness of a military general, the seriousness of his voice was mixed with moments of jaded sarcasm. He took turns leaning forward with his hands on the table, walking around waving his arms, and bouncing with crescendoing exasperation when he got excited.

“This thing is moving much faster than what the public debate acknowledges,” he said. “Everywhere else in the world, climate change is not a left-wing versus right-wing issue.”

After travelling the world and talking to leading climate scientists like James Hansen, and military officials from the Pentagon, Britain, and the EU, Dyer learned that scientists predict a 10 per cent loss in global food production with every one degree of warming. Militaries are planning for how to deal with ensuing refugees, failed states and water wars. “These are the kinds of conversations that are going on,” he said. “We’re in serious trouble. I have children. I have grandchildren. I am not particularly pleased by this news.”

The drama of the content gripped the bodies in the audience, pulling them forward in their chairs. With elbows resting on their knees, people with furrowed eyebrows clasped their hands in front of their mouths. Some, however, were not awake to hear the bad news. One older gentleman fell asleep five minutes into the talk, his head hung down in deep breathing.

The young, however, were definitely awake. During the question period, two young men in the back row eager to represent their generation, stood up while furiously waving their hands to get Dyer’s attention. The one chosen, Jonathan Maingot, asked Dyer advice on starting an organization that would spread awareness on climate change. After Dyer answered, and the crowd started spilling out, a young girl approached Maingot and said she wanted to be involved.