Leading Through Change: Navigating Global Challenges for a Sustainable Future
Transforming Crisis into Opportunity by Embracing Innovation and Collaboration in a World Facing Environmental Boundaries
At the 2024 Climate & Sustainability Leadership Summit, Dr. Peter Schlosser, Director of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University, addresses one of the most pressing challenges of our time: “The Futures of Our World: Life on a Planet with Natural Boundaries.” Schlosser, a globally recognized Earth scientist, draws from decades of research, offering insights into the profound ways humanity impacts the Earth’s systems and the urgent need for action.
Beyond Climate: The Web of Global Challenges
Dr. Schlosser opens by emphasizing that while climate change is often the focal point, it is just one of many interconnected crises. The broader issue, he explains, is the cumulative pressures that humanity places on the planet—ranging from environmental degradation to social and economic instability. “We’re not just facing a climate problem,” Schlosser says. “We’re confronting a planetary emergency that touches every aspect of life on Earth.”
He situates these challenges within the Anthropocene, a new geological epoch where human activity shapes the planet's systems. Schlosser points out that humanity’s influence can be detected everywhere—from the atmosphere to the deep oceans. “We are engineering our planet,” he explains, “but without a coherent, strategic approach, which has pushed us beyond a safe operating space.”
The Industrial Revolution: A Pivotal Turning Point
Dr. Schlosser traces the roots of today’s environmental crisis back to the Industrial Revolution. It was during this period that humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels—coal, oil, and gas—led to the exponential rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. These emissions, in turn, have driven global warming and led to significant changes in the Earth’s climate.
“CO2 levels are higher today than at any point in the last 800,000 years,” Schlosser notes, warning of the dire consequences if this trajectory continues. He stresses that this moment represents the "decisive decade," where the decisions we make now will determine the future of the planet for generations to come.
“This is a planetary emergency,” he states. “The challenge before us is unprecedented in both scale and urgency.”
The Uneven Distribution of Global Warming’s Impact
Dr. Schlosser highlights the unequal effects of global warming, noting that some regions—like the Arctic—are warming two to three times faster than the global average. This phenomenon, known as Arctic amplification, accelerates the melting of ice and the release of additional greenhouse gases like methane, which exacerbates the climate crisis.
Using recent data from 2023 and 2024, Schlosser shows how global temperatures are shattering records, with the summer of 2024 being the hottest on record. He cautions that the world is on the verge of surpassing the critical 1.5°C threshold established by the Paris Agreement, which could push many ecosystems beyond the point of recovery.
“Global warming is not evenly distributed,” Schlosser says. “The Arctic is feeling the brunt of these changes, but soon, the rest of the world will too.”
The Human Face of Climate Disasters
Dr. Schlosser underscores the devastating human cost of environmental disasters. He describes how the increasing frequency of extreme weather events—wildfires, floods, and droughts—is displacing millions and threatening lives. Recent disasters in Australia, Greece, and the American Southwest serve as stark examples of the destructive power of these events.
“These extreme events are no longer outliers,” Schlosser asserts. “They are becoming the new normal.”
He shares an image of a father wading through floodwaters in Libya, clutching his child and dog, as a vivid reminder of the human toll. “This is the face of climate change,” he says, emphasizing that people around the world are not only losing their homes but also their livelihoods and, in some cases, their lives.
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A Planet Under Siege: Beyond Climate Change
While climate change is critical, Dr. Schlosser warns that it is part of a broader environmental crisis. He discusses other threats, such as biodiversity loss, deforestation, and pollution, which are pushing the planet’s systems to the brink.
Pollution, he says, is especially concerning. Industrial chemicals and microplastics are now pervasive, contaminating ecosystems and even the human body. “We are saturating our planet with chemicals,” Schlosser notes. “Microplastics, for example, are now found in nearly every human being, posing unknown long-term risks.”
He concludes that humanity is over-extracting resources at a dangerous rate. “We are taking more from the Earth than it can sustainably provide,” he warns. “If we don’t address this, we are heading toward ecological collapse.”
Global Futures Laboratory: A New Vision for Solutions
Dr. Schlosser introduces the work of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, which is designed to tackle these planetary challenges head-on. The Laboratory is an interdisciplinary hub that brings together experts from natural sciences, engineering, humanities, and other fields to develop innovative solutions for a sustainable future.
“Our mission is to design options that sustain global habitability and improve well-being for all humankind,” Schlosser explains. The Laboratory focuses on critical issues such as transitioning to renewable energy, addressing water scarcity, and building resilient food systems. It also seeks to provide policymakers and industry leaders with the tools and knowledge they need to make sustainable, long-term decisions.
“No single entity can solve these problems alone,” he emphasizes. “It’s going to take collaboration between scientists, businesses, and governments to secure a sustainable future.”
From Crisis to Opportunity: The Path Forward
Despite the gravity of the situation, Dr. Schlosser offers a hopeful vision for the future. He believes that while the challenges are immense, they also present unprecedented opportunities for innovation and growth. For instance, transitioning to renewable energy not only helps mitigate climate change but also creates new industries and jobs.
“We have the knowledge and the tools to address these issues,” Schlosser says. “What we need now is the will to act.”
He points to advancements in agriculture, water management, and transportation as examples of how innovative approaches can lead to sustainable solutions that benefit both people and the planet. “These are not just challenges—they are opportunities for transformation,” he notes.
A Call to Action: Shaping the Future
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Schlosser calls on the audience to recognize their collective responsibility in shaping the future. The choices made today, he argues, will determine the kind of world future generations inherit. “The future is not preordained,” Schlosser says. “It is shaped by the decisions we make now.”
He encourages individuals and organizations alike to see the urgency not as a cause for despair but as an opportunity for action. “We are at a turning point,” he says. “What we do in the next few years will determine the course of human history.”
Dr. Schlosser’s message resonates with the audience, leaving them with a sense of both urgency and hope. The challenges are undeniable, but so too are the opportunities to create a more sustainable, equitable future for all.
>>> WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE PRESENTATION SESSION HERE: