Human pressure on the Earth’s ecosystem has now reached a point where rapid global environmental
change is possible. There are a total of nine planetary boundaries which we must not cross if the Earth
is to continue to support life and our civilisation. We have already crossed three of these boundaries:
climate change, biodiversity and nitrogen input to the biosphere. Since these boundaries are strongly
connected crossing one may seriously threaten our ability to stay in safe levels of the others.

The extent we will be affected by crossing these planetary boundaries will be dependent on our ability
to cope with and prevent rapid environmental change. Is it now time to use our technological mastery
over nature to protect the planet from ourselves?

Traditionally, environmentalists have been suspicious of new technologies and have rejected calls to
embrace GM crops and nuclear power.

• Is our failure to fully embrace technologies hindering environmental social progress and
putting humanity at risk?

• Is it time to revisit the role of nuclear power and genetic engineering as part of a global effort
to protect the planet and humanity from rapid environmental change?

The York SEI 2012 Annual Seminar will address the role of technology in tackling current and future
environmental challenges with contributions from Mark Lynas and Doug Parr followed by discussion.

The seminar is FREE and by ticket only.

Speakers

Mark Lynas, is a journalist, environmentalist and an award winning author. He has written
two major books on climate change – High Tide: News from a warming world (2004) and Six
Degrees: Our future on a hotter planet (2007). In his controversial book The God Species: How
the Planet Can Survive the Age of Humans (2011), he presents a radical manifesto that calls
for the increased use of contentious technologies, such as genetic engineering and nuclear
power.

Doug Parr is a Chief Scientist and Policy Director of the environmental campaign group
Greenpeace UK. Doug has a PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry from Oxford University. ~The
main focus of his current work is climate policy in power, heat and transport sectors. Previously
Dough has undertaken work on a range of issues including GM crops, chemicals policy, green
refrigeration, marine conservation, biofuels, geoengineering and nuclear power. He has also
been a key civil society commentator on the relationship between technology and policy through
issues such as nanotechnology.

Liz Barclay (Chair) has been a Broadcast Journalist and Producer for over 20 years, presenting
Radio 4’s daily consumer strand ‘You and Yours’ for 10 years. In her broadcasting career
she has worked across Radio and TV, for the BBC and the independent sector. She writes for
national newspapers, magazines and websites, is a published author of five books, runs the
small business support site www.thebizkit.com, presents at conferences in the UK and abroad
and is involved with several consumer, personal finance and small business organisations and
charities. She is a non-executive director of the